INTRODUCTION
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary uses an integrated approach to manage and protect its natural resources.
provides the information needed for making decisions regarding the resources. It creates the baseline data sets with which to assess changing conditions in the sanctuary.
are the conduits for the flow of information between the staff and
the public. They provide the sanctuary a means to share lessons learned through research and collect information from sanctuary users to be considered during
policy development.
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involves the implementation of specific protective measures based on information gathered through research, education, and outreach.
None of these activities would be effective without the many valuable partnerships between the sanctuary, other government agencies, and the private sector.
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MANAGEMENT PLAN REVIEW
The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is required by law to periodically review sanctuary managment plans, most of which date back to their original designation dates and have not been updated. The original management plan for Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuarydates back to its designation in 1992.
Federal Register Notice of Sanctuary Designation and Regulations, December 5, 1991, 56 FR 63634 (2.1MB pdf)
In September 2006, the sanctuary officially embarked on its first Management Plan Review (MPR), a public process that allows sanctuary staff to revisit the original designation documents and plan for the future. A Draft Management Plan was released in October 2010 then revised in response to a variety of public comments received following its release. The Final Management Plan was released in April 2012.
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What is a sanctuary management plan?
A sanctuary management plan is a site-specific planning and management document that describes the objectives, policies and activities for a sanctuary. Management plans generally outline regulatory goals, and describe boundaries, research and education programs. They also guide the development of future management activities.
Why should it be updated?
The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) reviews sanctuary management plans to ensure that sanctuary sites continue to best conserve, protect and enhance their nationally significant living and cultural resources. Recent scientific discoveries, advancements in managing marine resources and new resource management issues may not be addressed in existing plans.
To learn more about this process, visit our Management Plan Review page.
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