Park Advocates, Community Leaders Applaud Release of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Restoration Blueprint

Key Largo/Key West, Fla. – Today, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Restoration Blueprint, a major step towards finalizing this long-awaited plan for the Sanctuary.

Bordering three iconic national parks, Everglades, Biscayne, and Dry Tortugas, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is home to the third largest barrier reef in the world, and the only one in the continental United States. This national treasure is under threat from marine heat waves, coral bleaching and disease, overfishing, and many other stressors.

The long-awaited action plan to address these threats is the Restoration Blueprint – a plan more than a decade in the making that will improve protections for corals, seagrasses, and mangroves that safeguard Florida from hurricanes, while also protecting wildlife, water quality, and the economy of the Keys.

“The Restoration Blueprint is the result of comprehensive community engagement, compromise, and input from all the agencies involved in managing the Sanctuary’s one-of-a-kind water, wildlife, and habitats,” said Marisa Carrozzo, National Parks Conservation Association Senior Coastal & Wildlife Program Manager and FKNMS Advisory Council member. “We are calling for all hands on deck to put this plan into action, and protect the Keys and our connected national parks for generations to come.”

National Parks Conservation Association is a founding member of the Florida Keys Restoration Partnership which, released the following information in a press release responding to the Restoration Blueprint’s final plan:

The Blueprint updates the Sanctuary’s management plan, marine zones, regulations, and more for the first time since 1997. This plan will provide additional safeguards for the Sanctuary’s reefs, seagrass meadows, and island havens, which draw visitors from around the globe and make up the lifeblood of Monroe County’s economy. Its final iteration was developed following years of input by local residents and represents a common sense approach to conserving the area’s most at-risk natural areas.

“For our Florida communities, the Keys are central to our economy and a beloved place for recreation. That’s why the longstanding cooperative management of the Keys’ cherished coral reefs and fisheries between Monroe County, the Sanctuary, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is so important,” said Holly Raschein, Monroe County Commissioner. “From improving water quality to collaborating on an artificial reef pilot program, Monroe County has made great strides and investments in partnership with FWC and NOAA. I’m excited to see the Restoration Blueprint reach the finish line, and look forward to working with all the agencies and our residents to fight for the Keys’ future for years to come.”

The FKNMS is an ecological gem and national treasure for all Americans. With the boundary changes proposed in the FEIS, the marine sanctuary will protect 4,539 square miles of marine resources including one of the largest barrier reef systems in the world, extensive seagrass meadows, mangrove forests, and thousands of species of marine life. The FKNMS creates ecosystem connectivity with Everglades, Biscayne, and Dry Tortugas National Parks and other protected areas, enhancing biodiversity and marine wildlife habitat along the Florida reef tract. It is also an important economic driver in the Florida Keys, supporting about 43,000 jobs and contributing an estimated $4.4 billion annually to Florida’s economy. But in the last 25 years, coral cover has declined by half; thousands of acres of seagrass have been damaged by propeller scars and poor water quality; and recreationally important fish populations have diminished or have disappeared.

“As a Keys fishing guide and Councilmember for the Village of Islamorada, I’m excited about this milestone for the Restoration Blueprint,” said Captain Steve Friedman. “Developed with strong input from the fishing community, this plan will help preserve our world-class fishing resources.”

This final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) is based on previous findings from Sanctuary scientists and a rigorous public comment process, which included dozens of public meetings, consultations with the Sanctuary Advisory Council, and more than 80,000 public comments from organizations and members of the public. The Sanctuary, which is jointly managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the State of Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection in partnership with Monroe County, has been undergoing a management plan review since 2019.

“I’ve been lucky enough to live in the Keys for decades, and like many residents, I’m deeply concerned about the declining health of our reefs, seagrass beds, and more. Not only does this decline threaten our fish and wildlife, but it also threatens our way of life.” said Jerry Lorenz, PhD, Audubon Florida’s State Research Director and 24-year FKNMS Advisory Council member, on behalf of the Florida Keys Restoration Partnership. “The Restoration Blueprint, informed by stakeholders from across the Keys, gives us a chance to pass this way of life on to our children, and is a welcome step forward for the wildlife and people that call the Keys home.”

Following today’s release, the final rule is expected to be published in January, after which the Governor and Congress will have 45 days to review the final plan.

For more information, please visit: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/news/dec24/noaa-releases-final-restoration-blueprint-for-fknms.html

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The Florida Keys Restoration Partnership (Partnership) is a Coalition of local, state, and national organizations and individuals committed to the protection and restoration of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS), recognize it as a national treasure, and support stronger safeguards for Keys’ resources. The Partnership includes representatives of environmental and marine conservation organizations, recreational fishing groups, the diving community, faith-based organizations, community-organizers, and unaffiliated members of the public. The Partnership works to support measures to protect threatened wildlife and sensitive habitat, reduce stressors on natural resources, restore degraded areas, and strengthen investments in activities to improve the long-term health of the Sanctuary.

About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.6 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.