Innovative solution marks the spot for Western Dry Rocks fishing closure

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary has deployed self-setting buoy anchors for the first time in support of a state fishing closure at Western Dry Rocks that runs from April 1 to July 31. The four-month closure commenced in 2021 without boundary buoys to mark the site, as water depths at the location are beyond working depth for the sanctuary buoy team to drill traditional anchors.  A solution turned up in the form of 1,000-pound pyramid anchors fabricated with ductile iron by a New Hampshire company.

“No matter which way they fall they will always have a digging edge with the eye-shank in the correct position,” said FKNMS Marine Operations Technician Benjamin D’Avanzo, who spearheaded the project.

The anchors were dropped on Monday, March 27, 2023 through an interagency agreement with Key West-based ATMO, the U.S. Navy’s Atlantic Targets and Marine Operations unit. Sub-surface buoys are holding downlines in a vertical position approximately 20-feet from the surface, and sanctuary team members will soon return to install six, 32-inch, yellow boundary buoys that will remain in place until the seasonal closure is lifted. Last year, at least one commercial boat was cited for fishing during the closed period.

“Western Dry Rocks is a unique location that is a multi-species spawning aggregation site for many recreationally and commercially important fishes, such as permit, and numerous species of snapper and grouper,” said Jessica McCawley, Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission Director, Division of Marine Fisheries Management. “Protection of fish spawning aggregations used in coordination with other traditional management tools can be an effective strategy to sustain and potentially enhance our fisheries. The FWC is grateful for our partnership with FKNMS and their support in marking the boundaries of Western Dry Rocks to help the public easily identify the location of the seasonal closure. However, the work is only just beginning as FWC staff continue with the multi-year Western Dry Rocks Science Plan to evaluate whether the April – July seasonal closure is achieving its intended conservation benefit.”

Western Dry Rocks is located ten miles southwest of Key West. A seven-year sunset provision will allow the Commission to revisit the closure and discuss future management in this area.

Visual images of the anchor deployment are available here:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1A5XPs_V1j5EpNK8x9SariV2rIKRVXt8O?usp=sharing

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