Restoration Blueprint to Become Final in 30 Days: NOAA Releases Report

The long-awaited Restoration Blueprint for Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary will be published as a final rule in January, following today’s release of the final environmental impact statement and management plan. The documents outline NOAA’s regulatory recommendations, marking a critical milestone in the long-term efforts to restore the sanctuary’s delicate ecosystem.

The final rule outlines a series of science-based recommendations that reflect a balanced approach, combining strong environmental protections with the need to maintain sustainable access for local communities who depend on the marine resources there. NOAA’s final recommendations are designed to enhance the resilience of the sanctuary’s ecosystems while supporting long-term sustainability for the region. Key provisions include:

  1. Expand the sanctuary boundary by 20%

→Aligns sanctuary boundary with the extent of the existing “Area to Be Avoided” and protects vital marine habitats west of Riley’s Hump at Tortugas Ecological Reserve.

  1. Maintain open fishing in 95% of the sanctuary while creating consistent regulations for sanctuary preservation areas

→Protects popular coral reefs and provides refuge for marine life and scuba divers

  1. Prohibit the discharge of any material from cruise ships other than cooling water →Reduces pollution and safeguards water quality

  2. Add 20 wildlife management areas

→Protects seagrass beds and gives adequate space to nesting birds and sea turtles, which are critical to the sanctuary’s biodiversity

  1. Prohibit the anchoring of vessels at risk of becoming derelict

→Prevents further damage to sensitive habitats

NOAA cooperatively manages the sanctuary in areas that intersect the state of Florida boundary, just over one-half of the 4,539 square miles. Once the final rule is published in January, the governor of Florida will have 45 days to review the regulations and decide whether to accept them in full, reject them entirely, or exercise a line-item veto on parts that affect state waters. At that point, the final Restoration Blueprint will become law.

Learn more about Restoration Blueprint.

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