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TALLAHASSEE – Expanding protection for Florida’s
coral reefs and underwater resources, Governor Jeb Bush
and the Florida Cabinet today approved managing
regulations by the National Park Service for the Dry
Tortugas National Park. The regulations build upon the
management agreement between the parties approved last
year, and enhance protection for archeological
treasures, marine resources and habitat over 100
nautical square-miles. As part of the approval, the
Department of Environmental Protection and the National
Park Service will come back to the Governor and Cabinet
in five years to review the performance of the
regulations approved today.
“Today’s vote exemplifies the unwavering commitment
of Governor Bush and the Florida Cabinet to protect the
sensitive marine environment of the Florida Keys and
North America’s most extensive coral reef,” said
Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Colleen
M. Castille. “This multi-agency collaboration to manage
the Dry Tortugas will allow the partners to research and
preserve a near pristine subtropical marine ecosystem,
while still providing a range of recreational activities
for visitors to enjoy.”
The Dry Tortugas’ management plan separates the park
into a 54 nautical square-mile Natural/Cultural Zone and
a 46 square-mile Research Natural Area. Upon
implementation, available activities within the
Natural/Cultural Zone will continue to include
recreational fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling and
boating. The Research Natural Area will be reserved for
non-consumptive recreation, research and educational
activities, with a square-mile radius surrounding Fort
Jefferson remaining open for recreational fishing.
The Dry Tortugas plays a critical role in sustaining
the health of Florida’s coral reefs. The biologically
rich, relatively undisturbed area is home to some of the
clearest and cleanest waters in the Florida Keys. More
than 40 percent of the Tortugas reefs are covered in
coral, compared to 10 percent in the Florida Keys
National Marine Sanctuary. The diverse ecosystem also
provides spawning and nursery grounds for more than 300
species of fish.
In 2001, Governor Bush and the Cabinet partnered with
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
to establish the adjacent Tortugas Ecological Reserve as
one of the largest marine reserves in the world.
Designed to protect coral habitat, the reserve restricts
consumptive activities such as fishing. A 2004
expedition by NOAA, the State, the University of Miami
and the National Park Service recorded higher fish
diversities within the reserve than in fished areas of
the Tortugas. For example, scientists documented an
approximate increase of 130 percent for black grouper
and yellowtail snapper in 2006. According to the report,
population increases in reef species have also been
documented in other protected marine zones in the
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
As part of the Dry Tortugas National Park agreement,
the state and federal partners will work together to
implement a research and monitoring program for the
marine ecosystem. In addition, the partners will report
back to the Board of Trustees every five years,
providing Florida with a status report on the management
of the submerged lands.
Located approximately 70 miles west of Key West, the
Dry Tortugas is a cluster of seven islands composed of
coral reefs and sand. Along with the surrounding shoals
and waters, the islands make up Dry Tortugas National
Park, famous for its bird and marine life. Fort
Jefferson, one of the largest coastal forts ever built,
is a central feature of the park. For more information
on the Dry Tortugas visit
http://floridakeys.noaa.gov or
http://www.nps.gov/drto/.
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