Public Meetings
The public is invited to attend these meetings.
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council Meeting
Contact
Karrie Carnes
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
(305)809-4700 ext. 236
Location
Ocean Reef Cultural Center
35 Ocean Reef Drive
Key Largo, FL 33037
Date and Time
Description
The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC) will meet October 21, 2008, at the Ocean Reef
Club Cultural Center in Key Largo, beginning at 9:00 a.m. There will be opportunities for public comment at
10:20 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Researchers Ken Nedimeyer, Coral Restoration Foundation; Lauri MacLaughlin, Florida Keys National Marine
Sanctuary; and Margaret Miller, NOAA Fisheries will present upon a coral restoration experiment begun at the
Aquarius underwater habitat to determine the resiliency of transplanted coral fragments and ultimately improve
restoration techniques.
Corey Malcom of the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society will speak to ongoing archaeological surveys done to
locate the submerged cultural resources of 17th century shipwrecks near the northern entrance to Turtle Harbor.
The SAC will also hear from the public regarding the decisions made by the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico
Fisheries Management Councils, their implications for the Keys, and proactive ways to inform the decision making
process.
Sanctuary Advisory Council Chair Bruce Popham will also present upon the public proposal of Sanctuary
Preservation Area status for Snapper Ledge.
Other highlights include updates from the Sanctuary superintendent and the Ecosystem Restoration, Education and
Outreach, and Ballyhoo Sanctuary Advisory Council working groups.
The SAC was established to provide the sanctuary, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and
the State of Florida advice on implementation of the sanctuary’s final management plan. SAC members also serve as
liaisons to the community regarding sanctuary issues. SAC members relay the community’s interests, concerns, and
management needs to the sanctuary.
The sanctuary was established in 1990 in recognition of the special resources found in and around the waters of
the Florida Keys. NOAA and the State of Florida jointly developed a comprehensive plan to protect and manage
sanctuary resources. For more information, visit the Sanctuary’s web site at
http://floridakeys.noaa.gov. A current list of SAC members may be found at
http://floridakeys.noaa.gov/sac/members.html.
