Tortugas Ecological Reserve Takes Effect in Federal Waters

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After years of planning, rules designed to protect the diverse marine life and lush coral reefs of the Tortugas in a no-take ecological reserve take effect March 8 in federal waters of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

The Tortugas Ecological Reserve will protect important spawning habitat for snapper and grouper

The federal portion of the Tortugas Ecological Reserve includes all of Tortugas South (60 square nautical miles that includes the critical spawning grounds of Riley’s Hump) and 13.8 square nautical miles in the northwest corner of Tortugas North.

“We plan to work closely with commercial fishermen to make sure they’re aware of the reserve boundaries and regulations and allow them time to remove their gear from the closed areas,” said Sanctuary Superintendent Billy Causey. “With the end of lobster season less than a month away and the routine closure of Riley’s Hump to protect spawning mutton snapper approaching in May and June, the timing of the new rules should help ease the transition.”

In Tortugas North, the new regulations prohibit all taking of marine life in the federal waters of Tortugas North, restrict vessel discharges to cooling water and engine exhaust, prohibit anchoring and prohibit use of mooring buoys by vessels more than 100 feet in combined length. The regulations would allow diving and snorkeling, but require visitors to obtain a simple no-cost, phone-in permit to ensure that all vessels have access to mooring buoys, ease enforcement and assist in monitoring visitor impacts.

Regulations for Tortugas South also prohibit taking of marine life and restrict vessel discharges. In addition, to ease enforcement in this remote region, the regulations prohibit diving in Tortugas South, requiring vessels to be in continuous transit through the area with fishing gear stowed.

The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has published a draft rule to establish the Tortugas Ecological Reserve in state waters of the Sanctuary. Commissioners are expected to take final action on the rule at their March 29th meeting in Tallahassee, paving the way for consideration by the Governor and Cabinet in April. Implementation of the reserve in state waters is contingent on these approvals.

In addition, the National Park Service has proposed a type of no-take area called a Research Natural Area compatible with the Sanctuary’s reserve in its revisions to the General Management Plan for Dry Tortugas National Park. These combined actions would result in a world-class “no-take” ecological reserve in the Tortugas.

The Sanctuary based the Tortugas Ecological Reserve plan on a proposal drafted by the Tortugas 2000 working group and adopted by the Sanctuary Advisory Council. The 25-member working group included commercial and recreational fishermen, divers, scientists, conservationists, citizens-at-large and resource managers. The process to develop the reserve has drawn accolades as a model for collaborative reserve design.

The Tortugas Ecological Reserve will join the Sanctuary’s network of 23 no-take areas established in 1997 (including one ecological reserve). The final plan is available on-line at www.fknms.nos.noaa.gov/tortugas or by calling (305) 743-2437.