## Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Annual Report

July 1, 2003 – June 30, 20041 

### Introduction and Executive Summary

On January 28, 1997, the Governor and Cabinet, sitting as the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, approved the Florid a Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) management plan for implementation in stat e waters and adopted a resolution containing conditions for that approval. The annual submission of a report of the activities and conditions of the Sanctuary to the Board is one of those requi rements. This is the seventh of those annual reports covering the period of July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004. The following items describe

the condition of the resources a nd the most significant Sanctuary activities during this period.

Coral Reef Status: Coral reefs declined globally between 1996 and 1999 due to coral bleaching. Although mass bleaching has not occurred in the sanc tuary since then, Indo-Pacific reefs in some areas experienced severe bleaching in 2000 and again in 2002. Recent media attention about this worldwide decline of corals has heightened awareness and concern for coral condition in the Sanctuary. Therefore, the U.S. Environmenta l Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) funded a coral reef monitoring program that the Florida Marine Research Institute implemen ted in 1996. Data from this project show a 38%

decline in coral cover in the Sa nctuary, and a reduction in coral species diversity at most sites between 1996 and 1999. Since 1999, coral cover has not declined significantly. However, coral cover does not seem to be increasing either, which could indicate a lack of resilience in the coral reefs in the Sanctuary. More type s of coral diseases are present at more of the monitoring sites infecting more coral species; however, there was a decline in two diseases, “white disease” and “other disease” between 2002 and 2003. The major c ontributors to coral r eef decline in the Florida Keys are degraded water qua lity, physical impacts and over-fishing.

Seagrass Status: There has been no change in the overa ll abundance of seagrasses in the Sanctuary, but there was a reduction of seagrasse s at 3 of 30 permanent monitoring stations during hurricanes in 1998 and 1999. Some of the n earshore monitoring sites showed an increase in macroalgae due to an increase in nutrient pollution.

U.S. Navy Dredging Project Status: In late 2003, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started construction to establish a Ho meland Security battleship training group in Key West. The project includes dredgi ng of the Key West Main Ship Channel and Harbor, and repair

of the Truman Mole Pier. Prior to the pier repairs, approxima tely 3,500 corals were harvested from the construction site for transplantation to restoration sites. This project was approximately 20% complete in June 2004. In April 2004, the hopper dredge, Eagle I, caused impacts to coral

resources at several locations outside of the permitted channe l. Citations were issued for damages at four sites for violations of Sanctu ary regulations. Additional citations and mitigation may be required following receipt of a pending report on the damages from an environmental consultant. A corrective action plan for the resour ce injuries is currently being established.

Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center Dedication: In February 2004, local, state, and national representatives joined Jim Connaughton, Chairman of the President’s Council on Environmental Quality, Congresswoman Ileana Rod-Lehtinen, and ocean explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau in a ground-breaking ceremony for the Florida Keys Ec o-Discovery Center in Key West. The EcoDiscovery Center will be a world-class visitor center as part of the three-building Dr. Nancy Foster Keys Environmental Comp lex slated to open in 2006. Th e Eco-Discovery Center is a2 cooperative effort of the FKNMS, the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the South Florida Water Management District.

“No-Motor” Zones: In January 2004, Walt Stearn s highlighted “no-motor” zones in the Florida Keys in Saltwater Fly Fishing Magazine with his article “ Silencing the Jet Ski Buzz: No Motor Zones Enforce Tranquility on Some Florida Keys Flats: Now Anglers and Sanctuary Managers Suggest More of Them .” The article highlights a decrease in user conflicts between personal watercraft operators and flats fishermen in the F KNMS due to “no-motor” zones. As a result, he reports that the guides are recommending the establishment of additional “No-Motor” zones.

Geodectic Marker Installation at Molasses Reef: The first underwater geodetic marker was placed on Molasses Reef in the FKNMS in June 2004. The geodetic marker and the associated highly visible surface buoy were in stalled at the site of the Wellwood grounding, which is now a coral restoration project. The marker will allow re searchers and scientists to accurately calibrate their navigation systems to facili tate monitoring of the restorati on project, and to remind boaters of the fragile nature of the coral reef system.

Tortugas Mooring Plan Implementation: The Tortugas Ecological Reserve North mooring buoy field has been completed. Twelve surface m ooring buoys are available for public use as well as 24 sub-surface buoys.

No Discharge Zone: The state waters of the sanctuary were designated as a “No Discharge” zone in June 2002. An education and outreach initiative was launched in the spring of 2003 to publicize this designation, and to seek public co mpliance with the new provision that prohibits the discharge of sewage effluent and other pollu tants from any watercraft. The public has been generally receptive to the new regulation, which is now being enforced. Thirty-one pump-out stations, including four mobile pump-out boats, are now available in the Florida Keys, thus facilitating compliance with the new regulation and resulting in cleaner sanctuary waters.

Management Plan Status: The 1992 Congressional re-authori zation of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act requires the review of sanctuary management plans every five years to monitor and evaluate the progress of the mission to protect the natural a nd cultural resources of national significance. The Board also mandated this revi ew in a resolution on January 28, 1997. The fiveyear FKNMS management plan review proce ss began in 2001with public scoping meetings throughout the Florida Keys. The revised mana gement plan includes new action plans for Administration, and Damage Assessment and Restor ation. The revised draft management plan is scheduled for availability to the Board and NOAA headquarters in the fall of 2004.



### Status of Action Plan Implementation

Channel / Reef Marking: Interagency coordination among FKNMS, Monroe County Division of Marine Resources (DMR), the U.S. Coast Guar d (USCG), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and FDEP resulted in a pl an to install new channel markers and 3 new lateral aides at Niles Channel, and enhance the marking of a seagra ss flat adjacent to Whale Harbor Channel.

Education and Outreach: Highlights in FY 03/04 include: a field trip for 40 teachers and students from underserved communities throughout the United States and the Territory of3 American Samoa to provide a hands-on expe riences for approximately 1,000 Kindergarten through high school students; the awarding of $6,000 in grant funding for teachers in Monroe County to develop environmental education pr ojects; providing funding for the production and

distribution of thousands of hi gh-quality printed and audio-visual materials to more than 430 businesses for dissemination to the public; a nd, working with the local dive and snorkel community on a new business-based program , Bluestar , which is a voluntary program that recognizes operators who demonstrate commitme nt to protecting the coral reef ecosystem. Waterways , an episodic television production, now has select episodes available for downloading and viewing from the FKNMS website http://floridakeys.noaa.gov

.

Enforcement: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Cons ervation Commission (FWC) Sanctuary Enforcement Team (SET) continues to excel in law enforcement efforts and proactive enforcement actions. The program and agency goals are being fulfilled through organizational changes, dedicated staff, improved communication, strong le adership and interpretive enforcement. Partnerships continue with other state and federal partners including DEP, NPS and

NOAA Fisheries. The number of SET law enforcement personnel assigned to the FKNMS has remained at seventeen. The 82’ sanctuary patrol cutter Point Monroe was sold and will be replaced within twelve months with a 38’ catamaran-hull design ve ssel that is much faster and requires less crew to operate . Through the Cooperative Law Enforcement Exchange Training Program, FKNMS hosted law enforcement officers a nd rangers from Korea and China as well as

Central and South American countries.

Groundings: In FY 03/04 there were 466 reported vessel groundings within the FKNMS, a majority of which occurred in the upper Keys . This was a reduction from the 647 groundings of

FY 02/03.

Mooring Buoys: Over 750 mooring buoys, boundary buoys, a nd marker buoys are maintained in the FKNMS, with the majority in state waters . During FY 03/04 mooring buoys were available for public use approximately 97% of the time. The final 12 new mooring buoys for public use were installed in the Dry Tort ugas Ecological Reserve. A prog ram has been established to increase the mooring buoy load-han dling capabilities and add larger buoys at 4 reefs designated for use by vessels greater than 65 feet in leng th due to the increased size of vessels using Sanctuary mooring buoys. Thirteen new buoys have been added at 8 reefs a nd three wreck sites. Sanctuary staff were hosted by the Columbian gove rnment to provide training for their staff and to install 30 mooring buoys in their coastal waters.

Regulation: In FY 03/04, a total of 87 (up from 70 in FY02/03) no-cost, no-paperwork permits were issued for non-consumptive use of the To rtugas North section of the DTER. Over 210 permits have been issued for bait fishing in FKNMS Sanctuary Preservation Areas (SPA). A pilot project to allow bait fishing by hair-hook (a highly selective gear type) in three Upper Region SPAs was initiated with considerable input from a community working group and the Sanctuary Advisory Council. Full implementation of this new permit type is expected in October

2004.

Sanctuary permits were issued for research, e ducation, entrance by large ships into the ATBA, and other projects to allow environmentally compa tible uses of Sanctuary resources as follows: two special use permits: one authorization for a restoration project; and, two permits to allow coral monitoring and emergency response relate d to the Navy Key West Harbor Dredging4 Project. Consultation with fede ral and state agencies on dock and seawall projects, live rock aquaculture, and other re source issues continued.

Research, Monitoring, and Water Quality: There are two major monitoring programs in the FKNMS: comprehensive, long-term monitoring conducted through the Water Quality Protection Program (WQPP); and, the Marine Zone M onitoring Program. Long-term water quality monitoring within the FKNMS has provided some important information including elevated levels of dissolved inorganic nitrogen in the nearshore waters and hi gh concentrations of chlorophyll a , a measure of algal blooms, on the Southw est Florida Shelf. Temporal trends in water quality showed that most measures were consistent from year to year, sometimes with seasonal patterns. The exceptions were significan t increases in total phos phorus concentrations and decreases in dissolved oxygen and to tal organic carbon throughout the region.

The quantity of oral cover in the area designa ted as the FKNMS is 7.2%, which is unchanged from last year. Seagrass cove rage is consistent with model predictions of nutrient-induced changes, although changes have not been observed in all regions of the Keys. The changes are not spatially consistent, suggesti ng that local factors are likely responsible. Results of the Marine Zone Monitoring Program indicate that some heavily e xploited species have greater abundance and size in fully pr otected marine zones than those in other areas.

Submerged Cultural Resources: Accomplishments for FY 03/04 include issuance of two Survey/Inventory Permits, one Research/Recovery Permit, and three Survey/Inventory Permit Amendments. Presently there are eight active Survey/Inventory Permits and five active Research/Recovery Permits. The Programmatic Agreement between NOAA, the Advisory

Council on Historic Preservation an d the State of Florida for Historical Resource Management in

the FKNMS was reviewed and renewed and no si gnificant changes were made. A Curatorial Services Agreement between the FKNMS and the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society was signed for the federally owned Coffin’s Patc h 1733 Archaeological Site Collection. The Submerged Resource Inventory (SRI) team, cons isting of sanctuary volunteers, spent 366 hours in survey and inventory of submerged cultural re sources within the sanc tuary. In collaboration with the Historical Preservation Society, a f our-and-one-half foot cannon was recovered from a site known as Bunn Cannon Patch near Carysfort R eef. The cannon is presently being conserved at the Mel Fisher Museum and plans are bei ng made to house the cannon, along with an already fabricated gun carriage, at the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce facility.

Volunteer: FKNMS volunteers supported over a dozen proj ects including research, stewardship, restoration, and environmental education. Volu nteers dedicated to resource protection in the Florida Keys contributed 6,270 hours during calendar year 2003, a value of $107,781. FKNMS Sanctuary Advisory Council member Ken Ne dimeyer received one of six nationwide NOAA Environmental Hero awards. The sanctuary form ally assumed management of its own volunteer

program.

Damage Assessment and Restoration: Over 466 vessel groundings were reported in FY 03/04, and 86 of those resulted in a seag rass or coral enforcement action requiring injury assessment.5 FKNMS staff, contractors, and vol unteers conducted restoration at three coral injury locations and two seagrass injury sites. In FY 03/04 one special project was completed expeditiously using Ecosystem Management and Restorati on Trust Fund (EMRTF) monies under authority delegated last year by the Board of Trustees . This project restored approximately 15m 2 of orphaned corals and coral framewor k in the Newfound Harbor SPA.

Zoning: The marine zoning plan implemented in the sanctuary provides a common sense approach to protect sensitive re sources while restricting commercia l and recreational uses to the minimum extent necessary to protect the ecosystem . The results to date have shown that some heavily exploited, mobile species of fish have increased in population density and body size without any indication of adve rse socio-economic impact.

Administration: The revised draft management plan is sc heduled for availability to the Board and NOAA headquarters in the fall of 2004. The Florida Keys Eco-Disc overy Center, a planned

world-class visitor cente r in Key West was dedicated in February 2004. In FY 03/04, six SAC meetings were held in the Florida Keys cove ring a range of topics including water quality improvement, wild mammal viewing protocol, various research topi cs, the Navy dredging project, and fisheries. The SAC also participated in four wo rking groups including the Large Vessel Working Group, Ballyhoo Working Group, R eauthorization of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act Working Group, and Biscayne National Park Fisheries Management Plan Working Group.6 

### Annual Status Report for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Review of Action Plans 2003-2004

Channel / Reef Marking

Ongoing management of waterways in the FKNM S requires maintaining a strong interagency effort to provide safe access to all multi-use areas of the Sanctuary while maintaining a waterway marking strategy that provides natural reso urce protection. Ongoing coordination between FKNMS, Monroe County Division of Marine Res ources (DMR), the United States Coast Guard (USCG), the United States Fish and Wildlife Se rvice (USFWS), and DEP has provided continual improvement in the strategies and ou tcomes of this action plan.

In 1998, the DMR completed the Ch annel Marking Master Plan for the Florida Keys with the cooperation and contributions of partnering agencies. The plan was completed following seven years of growing concern of impacts to shallo w-water resources from boating activities. In 2003/2004, the DMR installed 3 new lateral aids in shallow water seagrass habitats consistent with the plan’s objectives of minimizing prop-damage from bo ating and improving navigation.

An internal database is maintained of all newl y installed, improved, and maintained markers, and a series of GIS maps is updated as necessary. Da ta from these records are used to identify needs for future marking and to update charts and public boating guides as necessary. At this time, the DMR considers the recommendations and objectives of the master plan to be complete, however the department and the FKNMS will continue to review navigational marking to ensure public safety and natural resource protection. (Strategy B.1 and B.4).

Hurricane Georges caused extensive damage to Marker 24 on the east side of the Looe Key Reef in 1998. The marker was replaced in 2000, but the old damaged marker was not removed. In 2003, the FKNMS with the help of the USCG w ill remove the storm-damaged marker which restss on the spur and groove formations in approxi mately 25 feet of water. The USCG utilized a team of NAVY divers to cut the damaged steel b eams and burn rigging holes in preparation for removal. (Strategy B.4).

Education and Outreach

FKNMS educators met several times with local dive and snorkel businesses to develop Blue Star, a voluntary program that recognizes opera tors who demonstrate commitment to protecting the coral reef ecosystem. Many visitors to the Fl orida Keys are unaware of the sanctuary and the rules that affect activities. The goal of Blue Star is to ensure that visitors receive accurate information about the sanctuary and coral reef ec osystem, and that they are informed about how to protect the natural resour ces by using good diving and snorkeling practices. The sanctuary plans to launch Blue Star at the Diving Equi pment & Marketing Association (DEMA) show in Houston in October 2004 with presentations and information for participants and media attending the show. The vision of the program is that visitors to the FKNMS will seek dive or snorkel operators with Blue Star designation. Th e sanctuary is working with local dive and snorkel businesses to determine the type of materials needed for the program. (Strategy E.4)

The FKNMS web site (http://floridakeys.noaa. gov) is continually updated with timely information, publications, press releases, regula tions, information on research and monitoring7 efforts within the sanctuary, and up-to-the-m inute weather information. Through the website, members of the public are able to receive vast amounts of printed and graphic information, contact sanctuary staff with ques tions and information requests, and receive responses to their inquiries. The total number of “Unique Vis itors” in calendar year 2003 was 118,666, or roughly 26% over the 94,208 recorded in FY 2002. North Ameri ca supplied the majority of visitors to the web site, followed by Europe, Oceania (including Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific islands), Asia, South America, and Africa. Ou tside the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Mexico, and th e Netherlands supply the highest number of visitors to the

FKNMS web site. (Strategy E.5)

NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and the Girl Scouts of the USA sponsored a Florida Keys field experience for six teenage Girl Scouts who learned about th e sanctuary, natural and cultural resources of the Florida Keys, and ocean explora tion. Each scout is required to share with other scouts in their hometown what they learned during their experience. FKNMS staff provided classroom presentations and hosted snorkeling fieldtrips. (Strategy E.4)

For the fourth year in a row, the Sanctuary pa rtnered with the National Geographic Society and the NMSP to sponsor a field experience fo r 40 teachers and students from underserved communities in the United States and Territory of American Samoa. Each teacher chose one outstanding student to accompany he r/him on the trip. For many of the students and teachers, this was a once-in-a-lifetime trip. They learned a bout the FKNMS, coral reefs, water quality, invertebrate zoology and the maritim e heritage of the Florida Keys. (Strategy E.4)

The Seagrass Outreach Partnership (SOP) contin ued its education and awareness efforts to address boating impacts on seagrass in the Florid a Keys and throughout the State of Florida. In addition to a media campaign during Seagrass Awareness Month in March the partners developed a display for at five local festivals and events. A new series of posters was also developed and distributed throughout the comm unity and added to the Seagrass Toolbox CD. Proclamations of “Seagrass Awareness Month” we re secured from Monroe County, Key Colony Beach, Islamorada - Village of Islands, and the State of Florida - Governor Jeb Bush. (Strategy E.4)

Team OCEAN volunteers donated their time to pr omote safe and enjoyable public use of the

marine environment of the FKNMS and to advocat e protection of its natural resources. Trained volunteer teams using sanctuary owned vessels were stationed at heavily visited reef sites during peak recreational boating seasons. They educated and informed the public about the FKNMS, encouraged proper use of sanctuary resources and practiced basic safety precautions. Many groundings occur because boaters are unfamiliar with the need to navigate around reefs instead of approaching mooring buoys by motoring direc tly across the reef. Team OCEAN volunteers directly prevent groundings by being present, wa tching for errant boaters , and waving them off when they attempt to cross the shallow reef crest. (Strategy E.4)

Team OCEAN staff distributes sanctuary materi als, charts and brochures along with over 3,000 brochures with the FWC fishing regulations a nd serve as liaison between the FKNMS and the business community at over 430 locations in South Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties. (Strategy E.4)8 Area Volunteer

Hours Days on the

Water Contacts Made New trained

Volunteers Upper Keys 375 55 940 12 Lower Keys 568 72 505 15

Total 943 127 1133 30

Enhancement of existing school programs conti nued to be a high priority. In FY 03/04 the FKNMS provided classroom and on-water enviro nmental education thro ugh a two-day program called Coral Reef Classroom. Monroe County students in grades 7-9 learned about the interrelated coral reef ecosystem, how to use basic water sampling equipment, and why good water quality is essential to a healthy coral reef . Over four thousand middle school students have participated in the program since 1991. This y ear, 463 students and 18 teachers experienced the complete program, which was made possible by trained community volunteers and chaperones. (Strategy E.4)

Coral Reef Classroom – Int eractive Education Experience

Year ‘91 ‘92 ‘95 ‘96 ‘97 ‘98 ‘99 ‘00 ‘01 ‘02 ‘03 ‘04 Trips 12 8 16 21 16 18 15 15 14 15 15 18

Students 419 201 345 429 384 438 378 357 363 398 361 463

Volunteers 12 13 16 17 14 8 5 6 2 3

Teachers 11 14 11 21 15 14 22 16 12 15

Chaperones 11 24 31 32 16 22 37 34 32 48

Other Volunteers 6 8 4 5 13 13 12 11 8

Every year, the FKNMS works to enhance the res ources of local teachers by providing them with grant opportunities and teacher workshops. In FY 03/04 the FKNMS awarded environmental educational grants totaling $6,000 to Monroe C ounty teachers for eight different projects focusing on coral reefs, geology, hi storical perspectives of th e Florida Keys, environmental ethics, public service announcements, endange red species, and more . (Strategy E.4)

FKNMS sponsored a Community Lecture Series featuring lectures by FKNMS staff. The lectures were presented in all th ree geographic regions of the Keys. (Strategy E.4)

Billy D. Causey Global Climate Change And Florida Keys

Coral Reefs J. Harold Hudson and Anne McCarthy Big and Small We Mend Them All: Reef Restoration in the Florida Keys David Score and Nancy Diersing Diving In to History: Centuries of Shipwrecks

FKNMS and partners Save-A-Tur tle, National Key Deer Refuge, The Turtle Hospital, Florida Sea Grant, The University of Florida Exte nsion Service, and the South Florida Water Management District hosted teacher work shops for 40 teachers in the fall and spring. (Strategy E.4)

Teacher Workshop Partners

FKNMS Seminar for Teachers (Fall) Florida Sea Grant, The University of Florida Extension Service, South Florida Water9 Management District

FKNMS Seminar for Teachers (Spring) Save-A-Turtle, National Key Deer Refuge, The Turtle Hospital

FKNMS sponsored the Current Issues stati on at the South Florid a Regional High School Envirothon held in Everglades National Park. Thirty teams of student s from Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties participated in the annual even t. This year’s subject was Natural Resource Management and the Urban Environment. (Strategy E.4)

The Monroe County Middle School Envirothon and was held at Crane Point Hammock in Marathon and sponsored by FKNMS and the Monroe County Environmental Education Advisory Council (MCEEAC). Nine teams competed in this hands-on educational field event that tests students’ knowledge about the Florid a Keys environment. Emphasis is placed on teamwork and research initiative. (Strategy E.4)

Education staff presented lectures, hands-on activitie s, slide shows, and served as interpreters on field trips in support of environm ental education opportunities for a dults to learn more about the Keys’ natural and cultural resources. (Strategy E.4)

Sanctuary staff represented FKNM S and DEP at festivals and trad e shows to provide information about sanctuary resources. DEMA was held in Miami Beach and the Education Team took the lead in planning and staffing the sanctuary’ s information booth that, along with other NOAA agencies, recorded over 2,000 visitors. Other fe stivals and events in FY 03/04 were: Miami International Boat Show, Earth Day at Bahia Honda State Park and Cheeca Lodge, USCG Safe Boating Day in Key West, Upper Keys Nautic al Flea Market, Marath on Seafood Festival, Key West Nautical Flea Market and Boat Show, and Oceans Day in Tallahassee. (Strategy E.11)

Staff attended professional development classe s, training, and conferences to expand their knowledge and skill. They have also contributed to and made presentations at local and regional training and conferences. (Strategy E.12)

The Florida Keys Birding and Wildlife Festiv al was held in Octobe r 2003 in Marathon. The

event featured an environmental fair at the Mu seum at Crane Point Hammock and a series of educational programs and field trips about the un ique Florida Keys wildlife and environment. A Children's Day event at Curry Hammock State Park attracted 350 thir d-grade students who enjoyed hands-on activities about birds, migr ation, adaptation and habitat needs. MCEEAC provided activity leaders and grant money to fund bus transportation for classes. Festival membership includes US Fish & Wildlife Service, FKNMS, The Nature Conservancy, National Audubon, Florida Audubon, Florida Keys Raptor Mi gration Project/Hawk Wa tch International, and MCEEAC. (Strategy E.11)

Education and outreach products were updated a nd reproduced to provide information to the public about the sanctuary, its resources and the regulations. (Strategy E.1)10 Quantity Printed Name of Product 60,000 Monroe County Lobster Brochure 60,000 Teall’s Upper Keys 60,000 Teall’s Lower Keys 15,000 Keeping Your Bottom Off The Bottom 15,000 Yellow Buoy Card
5,000 Sounding Lines , a quarterly newsletter

Waterways , an episodic television program exploring th e natural treasures of South Florida and the Florida Keys is produced through a cooperative effort between the FKNMS, Environmental Protection Agency, and Everglad es National Park. Over 150 ha lf-hour television episodes of have been produced, approximately 10 of those in 2003-2004. Filmed on location, each episode includes interviews with local environmental expe rts who explain the vari ous projects currently underway to protect this unique ecosystem.

Waterways, airs twice weekly in paid spots in M onroe County on Comcast Channel Nineteen, weekly on WLRN’s educational channel in northern Monroe, Dade, Broward, and south Palm Beach counties, and on fourteen government and e ducational access stations throughout the state. Five new public access stations have added the sh ow since last year’s report: Lee County, the University of Central Florida, City of West Palm Beach, the City of Coral Springs and Polk County. Due to the show’s high quality and informative subject matter, Comcast often provides additional broadcasts of the show free of charge. Several Waterways episodes are also now available for viewing and download on the FKNMS website http://floridakeys.noaa.gov

.

Enforcement

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Co mmission (FWC) Sanctuary Enforcement Team (SET) continues to excel in law enforcement e fforts and proactive enforcement actions. The program and agency goals are being fulfilled through organizational improvements, dedicated sworn staff, streamlined communication, strong leadership and interpretive enforcement. Partnerships continue with other state and federal partners incl uding DEP, NPS and NOAA

Fisheries.

Per Strategy B.6 additional enforcement officers may be hired and this is recommended by the SET as a priority in upcoming years. The budget and the NOAA/FWC Memorandum of Agreement allow for future expansion of these positions and other needed SET non-sworn personnel. These additional needs were identified for the upcoming FY 04/05.

The number of SET law enforcement personnel a ssigned to FKNMS has remained constant at seventeen. This includes one new captain who came into command in April 2004, three law enforcement lieutenants, one newly created law en forcement investigator (vacant as of July 1, 2004), ten law enforcement officers (two are cu rrently vacant – November 2004 FWC Academy graduates will fill these postions), one duty officer and one marine mechanic position that will be filled by a selective interview proce ss after July 1, 2004. (Strategy B.6)

The 82’ Sanctuary cutter Point Monroe was sold and will be replaced in approximately nine to

twelve months with a 38’ catamar an-hull design vessel that is much faster and takes less crew to operate. This vessel will be assigned strictly to the Dry Tortugas Ec ological Reserve (DTER).11 One lieutenant and two crew members will be as signed to the vessel, although per FWC General Orders, a lieutenant is not required to run this vessel size class thus making the vessel more readily available for response. Currently, a 30’ Manta (a mono-hull vessel) has been converted for long-range patrol for the DTER. It is the vision of the SET management to have in place both the 30’ long-range Manta and the 38’ catamaran-hull working out of Key West, with separate crews for the DTER and Sanctuary Pr eservation Area (SPA) patrols. Presently, an Upper Region SET Squad and Lower Region SET Squad, each consisting of four officers and one supervisory lieutenant remain in place. (Strategy B.6)

Communications improvements have continued with all SET officers now having Nextel phones. Nextel radio and cellular capabilities have pr oven to be a valuable tool in responding to groundings and other calls for se rvice within the FKNMS. Th e dialogue between scientists, biologists, engineers and enforcem ent officials has continued to provide coordination needed for vessel groundings and other major/critical issues su ch as the Key West Harbor Dredging Project. (Strategy B.6)

Per Strategy B.12 cross-deputization is ongoing in a ll avenues of law enforcement. Partnerships continue with other state and federal agenci es including DEP, NPS and NOAA Fisheries.

Discussion has been initiated with the National Park Service to develop an agreement for lodging arrangements for DTER enforcement officers on water patrol. In September 2003 sanctuary officers presented a class for DEP officers on fi sheries identification and how to file cases through the federal system as civil violations fo r seagrass groundings and habitat destruction. It is the vision of the SET to continue cross-deputiz ation of NPS and DEP officers so that they may

enforce the FKNMS Act.

In June 2004, using coral reef grant funding, NOAA Fisheries transp orted a 41’ vessel with sidescan sonar and video capabilities fr om Mississippi to work with the SET in locating illegal fish traps and/or structures on the seafloor and c onduct mapping exercises in the Gulf of Mexico waters of the FKNMS. Fisheries acquired a hug e amount of data and co mpleted an array of

functions and tasks with the as sistance of a FKNMS officer. The United States Coast Guard (USCG) also continues to assist and routinely work with FKNMS officers and to independently enforce sanctuary rules and re gulations. (Strategy B.12)

Through the Cooperative Law Enforcement Exch ange Training Program, FKNMS hosted law enforcement officers and rangers from Korea a nd China as well as from nations located in Central and South America. The SET provided training and courses about seagrass and coral damage assessment, vessel groundings, fisherie s identification, GPS Navigation, plotting, biology of coral reefs, boating safety, and vessel stops. This unique international exchange of

law enforcement officers has continued to strengthen since its inception in 2002.

In FY 03/04 there were 466 (down from 647 in FY 02/03) reported vessel groundings within the FKNMS, the majority occurring the Upper Re gion of the Florida Keys. Of the 466 reported groundings, 86 resulted in natural resource inju ries that required injury assessments by biologists, and 89 were turned over to the State Park and National Park law enforcement. The decrease in vessel groundings and activity in the FKNMS is most likely related to weather/wind restricting boating and diving activities as well as law enforcement water patrol for approximately 4 months. Within Monroe Count y, moderate to high winds and the resulting small craft advisories were persistent from February 2004 through early May 2004.12 Sanctuary officers conducted over 11,000 hours of water patrol (and over 4,000 hours of overtime), 8,136 inspections of vessels coming into contact with 25,478 users aboard these vessels, and responded to 5,127 complaints from vessels including persons in need of assistance. Officers issued 722 boating safety warnings and 4 84 resource warnings. A total of 319 federal citations were issued for various violations, including101 for seagrass damage, eight for coral damage, 96 for fishing within a Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA) and 40 for illegal spearfishing. Sixty-three citati ons were issued for miscellaneous violations such as littering, sponging and discharging oil polluta nts. One citation was issued for violation of the Area To Be Avoided (ATBA) while ten were issued within the Dry Tortugas Ecological Reserve (DTER).

Year 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 Groundings 507 549 581 660 605 647 466

Coral Enforcement Actions 16 21 21 22 6 24 8 Sea Grass Enforcement Actions 18 32 108 159 122 115 78

Federal Citations for FKNMS

Violations 69 129 168 213 280 407 319

Warnings 625 401 298 2625 +2000 1284 1308

Other State and Federal

Violations 495 395

FWC marked aircraft assisted the FKNMS greatly in locating illegal fishing vessels within the SPAs and DTER, logging over 130 hours of flying time used to locate, photograph, assess and take accurate coordinates of grounded vessels an d persons in violation of the FKNMS Act.

Marked aircraft have also s upplemented and assisted the 30’ Manta in the prevention, detection or apprehension of violators with in the DTER. Another contributi ng factor for the decrease in violations is the NPS ability to recognize violations and act upon them. This cooperative agreement in law enforcement is a continuing succe ss and an important aspect of preservation of

the FKNMS.

Statistical information provided within this report was taken from three credible sources: 1) FWC CAD dispatch calculation of the number of arrests per officer, 2) ACTIVITYNET, a database maintained by FWC and 3) summary settlement information and federal citations.

Mooring Buoys

The Mooring Buoy Action Plan is an ongoing commit ment that continues to expand and includes over 750 Sanctuary Preservation Area ( SPA) boundary-buoys, mooring buoys, Wildlife Management Area (WMA) buoys and information or danger-warning spar buoys. These embedment-anchored buoys are mos tly located in State of Florida waters and serve a multitude of functions, from preventing anchor damage to providing alternative diving and fishing sites away from popular reefs.13 During FY 03/04 mooring buoys were available a pproximately 97% of the time, replacement occurring as necessary following wear due to excessive use or normal wear in a marine environment. It is estimated that over 1,000 inspection, maintenance, and installation SCUBA dives were made by staff to maintain this level of performance.

The final 12 new mooring buoys for public use we re installed in the Dry Tortugas Ecological Reserve (DTER) bringing the total number of usable buoys to 36 (12 surface buoys and 24 subsurface buoys). The surface buoys in the DTER are rotated periodically among the 36 sites in the reserve. Thirteen new buoys were added to the mooring buoy program in the FKNMS across 8 reef locations and 3 wrecks (Spiegel Grove, Cayman Salvor, Joe’s Tug). Three additional mooring pins were added at the Wellwood coral reef restoration site at Molasses Reef for the ceremonial placement of the first underwater geodetic marker, and to serve as back up for mooring anchors at this ve ry popular dive location.

A program has been establishe d to increase mooring buoy system load-handling capabilities and add larger buoys at 4 different reefs designated for use by vessels > 65 feet, due to the increased size of vessels using FKNMS mooring buoys. Ne w larger buoys are be ing installed at the corners of the Looe Key Existing Management Area for better management of this zone by enhanced visibility.

The Columbian government and CORALINA (par t of the Columbian National Environment System) hosted members of the FKNMS moori ng buoy maintenance team to San Andres and Old Providence Islands, Columbia, to provide training for instal lation of a mooring buoy system. Over 30 buoys were installed in the two island arch ipelagos, part of a newly established marine protected area.

Regulatory

The Dry Tortugas Ecological Reservce has been fully implemented for over two years. Regulations for this area include prohibited entry (unless in conti nuous transit with fishing gear stowed) in Tortugas South and non-consumptive use only in Tortugas North. During FY 03/04, a total of 87 no-cost, paperless access permits (up fr om 70 in FY 02/03) were issued for entrance to Tortugas North.

Baitfish permits, which allow the harvest of specific baitfish species from the Sanctuary Preservation Areas (SPA) using a cast or lampar a net, are issued in the FKNMS each calendar year and are renewed annually upon submission of a catch log. In calendar year 2004, 211 baitfish permits have been issued to date. At th e request of a local fish ermen’s organization and with input from a community working group and th e Sanctuary Advisory C ouncil, a pilot project to allow bait fishing by hair-hook (a highly selective gear type) in three Upper Region SPAs was initiated. The required federa l government approvals under th e Paperwork Reduction Act for permit issuance were received in February and thr ee permits of this type were issued to local captains in early April 2004. Full im plementation of this new permit type is expected in October 2004 with permits being valid for the period October 15 to April 15.

General Sanctuary permits are issued to support several management goals including research, education, and facilitating multiple sanctuary uses. In FY 03/04, 67 permits and amendments were issued to support research and monitoring on sanctuary resources and qualities. These are14 further described in the Research, Monitoring, an d Water Quality section of this report. Five educational permits were issued, largely to assi st FKNMS managers in “r escuing” corals that would otherwise be destroyed by the Navy Key West Harbor Dr edging Project. Many institutions in receipt of corals and coral frag ments from this area are working collaboratively with the sanctuary to return specimens to restor ation sites in the future. Education permits also supported two university courses. Four permits and one amendment were issued for large

research vessels to enter the ATBA that su rrounds the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas. One permit issued by the South Florida Water Manage ment District (SFWMD) was authorized by the FKNMS for restoration of a seagrass bed near Duck Key. Two special use permits were also issued for eligible activities; one was a permit renewal to a commercial operator in Key Largo for the offshore dispersal of cremated human remains, and the other was to a movie production company for the filming of special effects in a major motion picture (Strategy B.11).

Following the formation of a Personal Waterc raft Working Group in February 2000 out of growing concerns regarding the operation of pe rsonal watercraft in Sa nctuary waters, FKNMS began a process to establish a permit structure a nd to assist homeowners in obtaining regulatory shoreline markers addressing the 100 yard Idle Speed/No Wake regulation. The process was further improved with the issuance of an Army Corps of Engineers Nationwide Permit that expedited the approval of the regulator y markers under the FKNMS regulation 922.163 (Strategies B.4 and B.17).

In FY 03/04, four individuals contacted the FKNM S to inquire about the process of obtaining regulatory shoreline markers addressing the 100-yard Idle Speed/No Wake regulation and seventeen buoys and two signs were approved for installation. Of the markers approved in FY 03/04 ten buoys and two signs have been installe d, bringing the total to 59 shoreline marker buoys installed to date (Strategy B.4).

In 2003, the FKNMS worked with the Village of Islamorada to assi st in the process of marking the entire shoreline of the Village with 100 yard Idle Speed/No Wake regulatory markers delineating both residential and non-improved shor elines. Under current FKNMS Idle Speed / No Wake regulation, only residential shorelines are regulated. The Village of Islamorada

enacted a new ORDINANCE NO. 03-10 to in clude non-improved shorelines as well as

residential shorelines.

U.S. Navy Dredging Project: In late 2003 the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

commenced efforts to facilitate the installation of a Homeland Security battleship training group in Key West. The two tiered project consisting of 1) dredging of the Key West Main Ship Channel and Harbor and 2) constr uction repairs to Truman Mole Pier has created a significant challenge for FKNMS and DEP staff due to the sens itive nature of the coral reef and seagrass resources, and the significance of such a large- scale project. The projec t is approximately 20% complete as of June 2004 and a corrective action plan for resource injuries is being finalized.

In late 2003, construction repairs to Truman Mole Pier commenced. As a byproduct of the repairs to the pier, over 3,500 corals and coral fragments were rescued from projected construction impact areas. Over 450 (> 6 inches in diameter) of these corals were transplanted to reef restoration sites, grounding sites, Fort Zachary Taylor Stat e Park and patch reefs off the FKNMS Lower Region. Another 250 corals (approx.) are presently slated for transplantation.15 The remaining corals and fragments (< 6 inches in diameter) have been d onated to coral nursery partners, aquariums or scient ific research facilities.

The dredging of the ship channel into Key West Harbor commenced in early spring 2004. Despite the year-and-a-half part nering effort in preparati on for dredging, the hopper dredge Eagle I strayed outside the channel during the early stages of dr edging operations in April 2004 and caused impacts to coral resources at several locations along the cha nnel's edge. Four of these injury areas have been cited by FKNM S regulatory actions; in jury assessments and mitigation plans are pending.

Throughout the ongoing project, agency staff from FKNMS, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), NOAA Fisher ies and EPA reviewed multiple plans and provided resource protective measures includ ing vessel captain and crew environmental awareness training, mitigation and monitoring plan s to detect resource impacts, turbidity monitoring protocols with higher protective standards (15 NTUs), and quality assurance/quality control contingency programs.

Research, Monitoring and Water Quality

There are two major monitoring programs in the FKNMS: comprehensive, long-term monitoring conducted through the Water Quality Protection Program (WQPP) and the Marine Zone Monitoring Program. The WQPP has been funded by various sources including the EPA, NOAA, FDEP, Florida Depart ment of Community Affair s (FDCA), SFWMD, Monroe County/Tourism Development Council, and Sanctuar y Friends of the Florida Keys. The WQPP began in 1994 and consists of status-and-trends monitoring of three co mponents: water quality, coral reefs and hard-bottom communities, and seag rasses. Sanctuary-wide status-and-trends monitoring is designed to detect large-scale ecosystem changes associated with local sources of pollution, as well as Everglades restoration and other regiona l-scale phenomena (Strategies W.20, W.33, W.5).

Long-term water quality monitoring from March 1995 – September 2003 has generated an

extensive set of data from 33 quarterly sampling events at 154 stations within the FKNMS including the Dry Tortugas National Park. This project has produced several important results. First, elevated levels of dissolved inorgani c nitrogen, an important nutrient, have been documented in the nearshore zone of the Keys. This pattern was not seen in the Tortugas, leaving land-use as a primary focus of attention. Sec ond, the highest concentr ations of chlorophyll a , a measure of algal blooms, were measured on the S outhwest Florida Shelf, w ith a strong declining gradient toward the Marquesas and Tortugas. Th is was due to higher co ncentrations of total phosphorus on the Shelf as a result of the southe rly flow of water along the western coast of Florida. Third, temporal trends in water quality sh owed that most measures were consistent from year to year, sometimes with seasonal patterns. The exceptions were significant increases in total phosphorus concentrations and decreases in dissolved oxygen and total organic carbon throughout the region. It is important to keep in mind that trends may change, or even reverse,

with additional data collec tion (Strategy W.20 and W29).

The Coral Reef Evaluation and Monitoring Proj ect data for 2003 shows the percent of stony corals in the Florida Keys at 7.2%. This is not significantly different from the last sampling year (7.4%). Sanctuary-wide, from 1996-2003, for a tota l of 105 stations, the number of stony coral16 species declined at 76 (72%) st ations, increased at 125 (14%) st ations, and remained unchanged at 14 (13%) stations. A decline in the number of stony coral species was recorded in all habitat types surveyed.

In 1996, coral disease was observed at only five st ations Sanctuary-wide. By 2002, coral disease was observed at 102 stations. Incidences of stony coral disease were reported for 95 stations in 2003. Specifically in 2003, white disease occurred at 72 stations, “other disease” was recorded at 89 stations, and Black Band Disease was recorded at seven stations. There were declines in two categories of disease between 2002 and 2003. (Strategy W.33).

Data from the seagrass monitoring project indica te changes in seagrass communities that are consistent with model predictions of nutrient-in duced changes of these systems. At several nearshore sites in the Florida Keys, there has b een an increase in the relative abundance of macroalgae over the period 1995 - 2003 that is consistent with an increase in nutrient availability

as shown in the nearshore water quality data mentioned above. In addition to these sites where relative abundance of primary pr oducers has changed, there have b een long-term shifts in the ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus in seagrass leaves that are consistent w ith increases in nutrient availability. These changes have not been observed in all regions of the Keys, suggesting that local-scale factors likely are responsible. There ha ve been no spatially consistent patterns of change in the relative abundan ce of seagrass specie s throughout the FKNMS, though there have been large changes at some locations between 1996 and 2003. The seagrass bed that carpets 80% of the FKNMS is part of the largest documen ted contiguous seagrass bed on earth (Strategy W.33).

Results of the Marine Zone Monitoring Program indicate that some heavy exploited species

exhibited differences in abundance and size betw een fully protected marine zones (FPMZs) and reference sites. In 1997, there was little differe nce between the number of spiny lobsters in FPMZs and reference sites, but after six years of protection there were almost twice as many lobsters inside FPMZs as outside. Legal-sized lobs ters were very abundant on the fore reef at the Western Sambo Ecological Reserve and East ern Sambo Research-Only Area. Since 1999, abundance of legal-sized lobsters has always been greater in those FPMZs than in their respective reference areas. In general, mean lobs ter size was below the legal limit in FPMZs and reference areas in 1997. Since then, mean lobster si ze in FPMZs has been larger than legal size and comparatively larger than in reference areas. It appears that a reside ntial population of spiny lobsters is becoming established within the We stern Sambo Ecological Reserve. The expansion of lobster size range in this ecological reserve sugge sts that some of the lobsters remain there for an extended period. Habitat for all life stages of spiny lobsters is protected within the reserve. Once adults establish residence, the ecological rese rve is sufficiently large to protect a portion of the population as it travels to foraging grounds and between winter dens and spring spawning habitat. Since no-take protection was initia ted in 1997, significant de nsity increases were observed for several exploited reef fish species in FPMZs compared to fished reference areas. Among exploited species, mean densities were higher in FPMZs for Gray Snapper, Black Grouper, and Yellowtail Snapper. In contrast, co ncordance was observed in changes in density between FPMZs and reference areas for Stoplight Parrotfish and Striped Parrotfish, two species not directly exploited (Strategy Z.2 and Z.3).17 The Sanctuary staff hosted several tours and fact -finding missions for visitors from around the world, presented papers and pos ters at scientific workshops , and represented the FKNMS on committees and scientific working groups (Strategies W.29, W.33).

The Sanctuary issued 60 permits and 7 permit am endments to support research in the Florida Keys from July 2003 through June 2004. Permit holders were largely university researchers, but also included government agencies, students, and private industry. Newly permitted projects and ongoing research focus on areas ranging from coral reef studies (disease and bleaching, community structure, reproductive success, and ot hers), coral propagation and reef restoration,

fisheries and invertebrate studi es, marine mammal studies, seagrass monitoring, marine protected area design and effects of no-take manageme nt, nutrient dynamics, oceanography, and many others (Strategy B.11).

In 2004, a request for proposals was published for the Special Studies research program in the Sanctuary to: 1) identif y and document cause and affect linka ges between specific pollutants, water quality problems, and ecological impact s; 2) improve understanding of Sanctuary ecosystems and develop predictive capabilities based on that understand ing; and 3) develop monitoring and research tools to detect pollu tants, provide early wa rning of widespread problems, and identify cause and effect relationshi ps. 2004 priority topics were: 1) recruitment and survival of marine species; 2) decline in coral abundance, c overage, and species diversity; 3) distribution and abundance of pathoge nic bacteria, viruses, and othe r pathogens; and 4) effects of management actions on abundance and di stribution of marine organisms.

Research projects were select ed for funding beginning in Oct ober 2004 and include tracking of lobster movements in the Dry Tortugas Ecologi cal Reserve, the impacts of mosquito spray pesticides on conch larval growth and devel opment, and a pilot-scale project to look for endocrine disrupting compounds and other pharm aceuticals in nearshore waters. Funding for monitoring projects will be fr om EPA and NOAA. Funding for research will be from EPA ($50K), SFWMS ($100K), and NOAA ($50K ). (Strategies F.6, W.20, and W.33).

The City of Key West and Monroe County conti nue to make important progress on clean water issues. The city is actively implementing repl acement of leaking main and secondary sewer lines, and working toward stormwater improveme nts as part of a plan approved by the Water Quality Protection Program Steeri ng Committee. Monroe County is slated to receive $4 M in appropriated funds from the State of Florid a for wastewater improvements throughout the county. Additional funds have been authorized , but not yet appropriated from the federal government as well (Strategy W.4).

The second year of the No Discharge Zone in State waters was a success. The No Discharge Zone was implemented in June 2002 in all state wa ters of the FKNMS at th e request of Governor Bush. The purpose of the no discharg e zone is to help protect and preserve water quality and the unique marine resources of the FKNMS from discharges from vessels. An education and outreach initiative was launched in spring of 2003, and the majority of the public at-large has been receptive of the new regulation. The init iative held one public workshop and another is presently scheduled. About 31 pump out stations are now available for use located throughout the Florida Keys, including four mobile pump-out boa ts and plans for a fifth. The county is also working with marinas and affiliated businesses in applying for Clean Vessel Act grants for more pump out services and sewage management. Enforcement of the no discharge zone is a18 combined effort of State, federal, and local law enforcement officers. Monroe County and the City of Key West have also installed mooring buoys in some harborages that will help in the implementation of the pump-out requirements (Strategy B.7).

Submerged Cultural Resources (SCR)

A Programmatic Agreement between NOAA, the Advisory Council on Hi storic Preservation,

and the State of Florida for Hist orical Resource Management in the FKNMS, hereafter referred to as the Programmatic Agreement (PA), was executed on June 29, 1998. Section V.2. of the agreement provides for periodic reporting to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP). As the agreement was implemented over the five-year term, significant strides were made in the comprehensive management of SCRs within the Sanctuary. This report summarizes the key activities performed under the agreemen t and provides a general overview of newly discovered historic sites, as well as other issues related to histor ical resource management in the

sanctuary.

In keeping with the NMSA and FKNMSA mandate to facilitate multiple compatible uses of sanctuary resources, the PA has been renewed af ter a five-year execution period. This agreement provides for survey, inventory, research and recove ry of submerged cultural resources within the FKNMS. Staff time includes review of permit requests, cataloging and dissemination of permit activity reports, development and maintenance of a permitting database to track SCR permit sites and activities, and evaluation of excavat ion techniques in relati on to impacts on natural resources. No significant cha nges were made to the PA during the review and renewal period.

In January 2004 the renewal of the Curatorial Services Agreement Between DOC, NOAA, NOS, NMSP, through the FKNMS and the Mel Fisher Ma ritime Heritage Society was signed for the federally owned COFFINS PATCH 1733 archaeologi cal site collection. Th e agreement provides for the professional care, manage ment and repository facilities a nd proper display or storage of the collection. The collection is currently on disp lay at the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in Key West. The museum was accredited by the Ameri can Association of Museums in January 2004, and attracts almost 200,000 visitors annually, making it the most a ttended history museum in the

Southeast.

In FY 03/04 FKNMS issued two Survey and Inventory (S/I) Permits, three S/I permit amendments, and one Research and Recovery (R/R ) Permit. There are currently eight active S/I

Permits and five active R/R Permits.

In August 2003 a research plan supported by the FKNMS Upper Region was implemented to

document the wreck of the 19 th century side-wheel steamer Menemon Sanford . Under Sanctuary Permit FKNMS-2003-019 the Maritime Archaeologica l Research Initiative (MARI) was issued a Survey and Inventory Permit to map and document the Menemon Sanford shipwreck, located in the vicinity of Carysfort Reef. Wood samples were recovered for the purpose of anatomical identification that will provide valuable data rega rding original construction of the vessel. A site plan will be generated, supplemented by photo and video documentation. The survey goals are to identify and assess the historical and cultural significance of the site as a possible nominee for the National Register of Historical Places.19 In July 2003, the Maritime Archaeological and Hi storical Society (MAHS), in cooperation with the FKNMS, conducted an underwater archaeology field school at a shipwreck site located at

Grecian Shoals and believed to be the lost American Bark Excelsior . The primary objective of

the field school was to train volunteer SC UBA divers in submerged site mapping and documentation techniques. Students were taught how to use the tr ilateration survey method to create a scale drawing of the site and locate its principle features . The completed site drawing,

archives and field research documents have been provided to the FKNMS.

A four-and-one-half foot cannon, one of 13 ca nnons from a site known as the Bunn Cannon Patch at South Carysfort Reef off North Key Largo, was recovered in October 2003 under the FKNMS Manager’s Permit. The cannon may yield valuable clues about the ship that once

carried it. The site has been extensivel y documented since 1993 and FKNMS consulted extensively with the State of Fl orida Division of Historical Re sources and NMSP archeologists about recovery operations. The National Undersea Res earch Center assisted in the recovery with

its research vessel Sabina . The Mel Fisher Maritime Herita ge Museum is conserving the cannon, and the sanctuary is working with the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce to arrange for a permanent display.

Volunteer

People are an integral part of the Florida Keys ecosystem. Ultimately, protecting the FKNMS requires that local residents take responsibility and participate in its protection. Recognizing this, the State of Florida, NOAA and The Nature Cons ervancy (TNC) seize oppor tunities to work in partnership with individuals and communities in environmental problem solving. This strategy encourages a growing conservation ethic in the Florida Keys and re sults in solutions that benefit humans as well as the greater ecosystem.

TNC has been FKNMS’s partner in volunteerism since 1992. Under their expert guidance, a Keys-wide volunteer program was developed that has provided over 170,000 volunteer hours (a $2.8 million dollar value) over the past twelve years. The sanctuary formally assumed management of its own volunteer program in sp ring 2004, and continued insurance coverage for volunteers (Workmans Comp) through NOAA.

Volunteer activities supporting the FKNMS management plan in clude: Coral Reef Classroom and Team OCEAN (Strategy E.4), Submerged Cu ltural Resources Invent ory (Strategy R.1), Adopt-A-Reef, and a FKNMS partnership with Th e Ocean Conservancy. Volunteers contribute greatly to protection of sanctuar y resources through r eef cleanups, assisting with slide libraries and providing support for office and marine servi ces staff. Volunteers dedicated to resource protection in the Keys cont ributed 6,270 hours during calen dar year 2003, a value of $107,781.

Organization Project Volunteer Hours

Florida Fish and Wildlife

Conservation Commission (FWCC) Queen Conch Restoration Program 668.5

The Nature Conservancy Florida Keys Watch 127 The Nature Conservancy Green Sweep 359.5

The Nature Conservancy Diad ema Restoration Project 567.520 The Nature Conservancy Special Projects 165.5 FKNMS Adopt-A-Reef 240

FKNMS Coral Reef Classroom 190.5 FKNMS Submerged Resources Inventory 1104

FKNMS Team O.C.E.A.N. 942.5 FKNMS Special Projects 386

FKNMS Reef Medics 361 FKNMS Sanctuary Advisory Council

members attendance at regular SAC meetings 912

FKNMS Sanctuary Advisory Council

members attendance at Working Group meetings 346

TOTAL 6270

The FKNMS Sanctuary Advisory Council members participated in six regular meetings and served on the following Working Groups: Larg e Vessel, Ballyhoo, Reauthorization of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, and the Biscay ne National Park Fisheries Management Plan. SAC member Ken Nedimyer received one of six nation-wide NOAA Environmental Hero

awards.

Damage Assessment and Restoration

Of 466 groundings in FKNMS in FY 03/04, 86 of those resulted in a seagrass or coral enforcement action requiring some form of injury assessment. FKNMS staff, contractors, and

volunteers conducted restoration at three coral injury locations and two seagrass injury sites. In FY 03/04 one special project was completed expeditiously using Ecosystem Management and Restoration Trust Fund (EMRTF) monies under authority delegate d last year by the Board of Trustees. This project re stored approximately 15m 2 of orphaned corals and coral framework in

the Newfound Harbor SPA.

There were two instances of illegal dumping in state waters within the sanctuary that also required injury assessment. One of the ille gal dumping cases required immediate removal of debris, which was funded by NOAA Damage As sessment and Restoration Revolving Fund

monies.

FY 03/04 was highlighted by sanctuary-wide coral re scue efforts. In cooperation with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, staff from the dama ge assessment and restoration program worked to remove over 3,500 coral colonies and fragments from the Truman Mole Pier. Several hundred

of the coral colonies were tr ansplanted to restoration site s in Looe Key SPA and Western Sambos Ecological Reserve. Another coral resc ue effort at Looe Key saved approximately 50

coral colonies from the beams of an old reef marker that was being scuttled. Sanctuary wide

restoration efforts also included the stabilization of orphaned coral injuries at six sites in the Upper Region using federal grant money and as sistance from sanctuary volunteers.

The first underwater geodetic marker was placed on Molasses Reef in the FKNMS in June 2004. The geodetic marker and the associated highly visi ble surface buoy, were installed at the site of21 the Wellwood coral restoration project. The marker will allow for researchers and scientists to accurately calibrate their navigation systems fo r monitoring of the restoration project, and remind boaters of the fragile nature of the coral reef system.

Zoning

The marine zoning plan implemented in the sanc tuary provides a common sense approach to protect sensitive resources, wh ile restricting commercial and recreational uses only to the minimum extent necessary to protect the ecosystem . The results to date have shown that some heavily exploited, mobile species have increas ed in population density and body size without any indication of adverse socio-economic impact.

As discussed previously in the mooring buoy sec tion, the FKNMS maintains, installs, and assists in establishing markers and buoys for the ex isting Wildlife Management Areas (WMA), Sanctuary Preservation Areas (SPA), Special -Use Areas (Research Only) and Ecological Reserves. In FY 03/04 the team maintained 120 WMA boundary buoys and 123 SPA/ER/Special-use boundary buoys. It was discovered that the one of the boundary buoys delineating the Newfound Harbor Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA) did not match the coordinates in the Federal Regist er for that location, and was pr otecting only 73% of the SPA. The buoy was moved to correct this oversight, whic h enhanced the protection of coral, seagrass,

and hardbottom habitat. No new zones were esta blished in FY 03/04. (Str ategies Z.2, Z.3, Z.4 and Z.5)

In January 2004, contributing wr iter Walt Stearns highlighted no-motor zones in the Florida Keys in Saltwater Fly Fishing Magazine with his article “ Silencing the Jet Ski Buzz: No Motor Zones Enforce Tranquility on Some Florida Keys Flats: Now Anglers and Sanctuary Managers Suggest More of Them .” The article highlights a decrease in user conflicts between personal

watercraft users and flats fish erman on many flats in the FKNMS due to no-motor zones, and that guides are amenable to the idea of more in the Florida Keys.

Administration

The 1992 Congressional re-authorization of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act requires sanctuaries to review their management plans every five years to monitor and evaluate the progress of the mission to protect the natural and cultural resources of na tional significance. The

Board also mandated this review in a reso lution on January 28, 1997. The management plan review process began in 2001 with public scoping meetings held throughout the Florida Keys. The revised management plan includes new actions plans for Administration, and Damage Assessment and Restoration. The revised draft manage ment plan is scheduled for availability to the Board and NOAA headquarters in the fall of 2004.

In February 2004, local, state, and national re presentatives joined by President Bush’s environmental advisor Jim Connaughton, Congr esswoman Ileana Rod-Lehtinen, and ocean explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau participated in a dedication of the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center in Key West. The Eco-Di scovery Center will be a world-class visitor center facility, part of the three-building Dr. Nancy Foster Keys E nvironmental Complex slated to open in 2006. The Eco-Discovery Center is a cooperative effort of the FKNMS, the National Park Service, the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Sout h Florida Water Management District.22 The FKNMS Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC) was established to provide advice to Sanctuary managers regarding management of the Florid a Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The SAC consists of appointed members and include repr esentatives of commercial and recreational user groups (i.e. commercial and recrea tional fishermen, the dive indus try, and the boating industry), conservation and other public inte rest organizations, sc ientific and educational organizations, and members of the public interested in the protec tion and multiple use management of Sanctuary resources. In FY 03/04, 6 SAC meeting were held in the Florida Keys covering a range topics including water quality improvements, wild mammal viewing protocols, va rious research topics, the Navy dredging project, and fisheries issues. The SAC also participated in four working groups: Large Vessel Working Group, Ball yhoo Working Group, Reauthorization of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act Working Gr oup, and Biscayne National Park Fisheries Management Plan Working Group. The SAC also hosted FWC commissioners and the National Marine Protected Areas Technical Advisory Co mmittee to Sanctuary Friends of the Florida Keys-sponsored mixers, and attended a Volunt eer Recognition reception hosted by The Nature Conservancy and attended by James L. Conna ughton, Chairman of the President’s Council on Environmental Quality.