- Local News for Southern Sailors - March 2003 Next StoryThe Keys
Do's & Don'ts of theFlorida Keys NationalMarine Sanctuary
By Karen Hermanson
| Boaters constitute a good portion of the more than 2.5-million people who visit the Florida Keys every year. The Florida Keys represent the third largest barrier coral reef system in the world, along with thousands of acres of seagrass beds vital to the survival of many marine organisms. The importance of protecting this resource is clear. What is not as clear, however, is the web of agencies, rules and restrictions involved in protecting the area. As sailors, we have a natural appreciation for preservation and a strong inclination to protect our waters. This article is an attempt to sort through some of the complexities of the Sanctuary Regulations to ensure sailors understand the do's and don'ts of the protected area surrounding the Florida Keys. What is the National Marine Sanctuary? The Sanctuary includes a group of protected environmental zones that are covered by federal regulations that have been in effect since July 1, 1997. Zones of special protected areas include Sanctuary Preservation areas, Ecological Reserves and Special-Use areas running on the north as well as the south side of the Keys (Hawks Channel and Florida Bay) from Key Largo all the way to the Dry Tortugas National Park What activities are prohibited? Within the Ecological Reserve and Sanctuary Preservation areas, it is generally prohibited to discharge any matter except cooling water or engine exhaust. That means ensuring proper operation of your holding tanks, reeling in your trolling lines, not coming into contact with coral, and by all means, making sure you do not anchor near these restricted areas. You are not allowed to enter a Special Use area without being specifically authorized by a valid permit. These areas are Conch Reef near Key Largo, Tennessee Reef, Looe Key, and Eastern Sambos Reef.How do I know if I am in or near a preservation area?  This is a good question since the preservation areas are spread over hundreds of miles of prime sailing territory and incorporate 18 small Sanctuary Preservation areas, 27 Wildlife Management areas and 4 Special Use (research-only) areas. Generally, beware of any yellow buoys you may see. These 30-inch buoys are intended to mark a zone's "corners", so that visually connecting the buoys provides some indication of the preservation zone. While educational materials state that buoys can also be identified by 3-inch block letters, we all know as sailors how difficult it is to read a 3-inch letter from any distance, or even from the deck for that matter. Recent experience found the yellow buoys as well as any lettering to be faded, making identification difficult and easily mistaken for white mooring buoys. Identification of the buoys and related zones are particularly difficult at night since their reflective qualities are poor, and the direction and distance between buoys requires the assistance of extremely strong spotlights. Needless to say, do not moor to these buoys or use them as an indication of safe anchorage. Anytime you see yellowish buoys, try to visualize a square or rectangular pattern and stay outside of their confines. Some of the Sanctuary Preservation areas are located on shoals and shallow reefs indicated with regulatory markers, reef towers, I-beams or can buoys with diamond-shaped signs. Most sailors stay well away from these markers anyway, but for excursions in your dinghy, pay attention to markers indicating preservation areas and act accordingly. | Where is it safe to travel? Near Key Largo, the Sanctuary Preservation areas (SPAs) generally run along the John Pennekamp State Park area in Hawks Channel. Because few of us anchor out in Hawk's Channel, it is an unlikely area for sailors to get into Sanctuary trouble there. I find that anchoring near Rodriguez Key about mid-way of Key Largo, provides near-shore protective anchorage within a day's sail south of Key Biscayne, and away from any protected area. Similarly, continuing south past Marathon, the research areas and SPAs are not near land or channel areas. At Newfound Harbor, however, an SPA lays right off the coast of Little Palm Island Resort and the Channel. Look carefully before anchoring anywhere in that vicinity. For boaters traveling on the northern or bay side of the lower Keys, know that the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge and National Key Deer Wildlife Refuge cover a large portion of the shallow areas and smaller keys from Bahia Honda Key westward to Key West. The precise latitudes and longitudes are published in the Federal Register Notice dated June 12, 1997, Part II, but if you are like me, and do not make a habit of reading the "Register," you can obtain maps of all zones, as well as a copy of the regulations by contacting one of the three Keys Sanctuary offices. The Upper Keys' office number is (305) 852-7717. Also, newer charts such as the MapTech ChartKit of the Florida Keys (eleventh edition and beyond) do identify protected areas.Fines & Penalties Could Result From Violations Of Protected Areas Since the Sanctuary and Wildlife Management areas are regulated by state as well as federal agencies such as the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, violation of these regulations could result in Federal penalties and heavy fines. Apart from keeping an eye out for areas marked by yellow buoys, sailors can minimize human impact by making sure not to discharge trash or other pollutants throughout the Keys, maintain current navigational charts (which indicate protected areas) and plan their navigation to eliminate contact with the seabed or living rock (including in our dinghies). Before entering the Sanctuary waters near Key Largo as you enter Hawks Channel, make sure the valve from the head(s) to the holding tank(s) is in operation. Also, should snorkeling or diving be a part of the fun, ensure that your children or guests do not remove coral, rock or any marine life species from these waters, or unnecessarily disturb the seagrass beds. Generally, avoid fishing, spear-fishing and shell-collecting since these activities are prohibited throughout the SPAs as well as Ecological Reserve areas. You may catch and release fish only at Conch Reef, Alligator Reef, Sombrero Reef and Sand Key. If by some chance you do run aground in the Keys, do not attempt to use your engine to power off a reef or grass area. If you cannot drift free with the tide, radio the Coast Guard or Marine Patrol on VHF Channel 16 for assistance. With awareness of the National Marine Sanctuary Program and our cooperation, we as sailors can enjoy the beauty and diversity of sailing the Florida Keys for years to come. Contacts: www.fknms.nos.noaa.gov (305) 743-2437. |