Day one of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC)’s meeting found most council members relatively united in their support, or lack thereof, of proposed regulation changes outlined in the latest draft of the sanctuary’s Restoration Blueprint.
Day two of the same meeting, held on Dec. 14, drew out differences in perspective as commercial and recreational fishermen and guides debated catch-and-release trolling and bait fishing in established Sanctuary Preservation Areas (SPAs), along with best practices for managing, expanding or establishing new wildlife management areas.
While the council reached a summary statement of support or concern for most regulatory changes discussed on day one, preliminary drafts of its recommendations on the aforementioned topics elected instead to relay a spectrum of perspectives.
Proponents of the trolling and bait fishing changes in the Conch Reef, Sombrero, Alligator Reef and Sand Key SPAs argued that making the four areas “fully protected” would reduce mortality of reef fish species, creating a “spillover effect” to surrounding areas as the size and number of protected species inside the SPAs increased. Some stated that no extractive activities should be allowed within SPAs, and that eliminating the only allowed fishing methods within the areas would reduce confusion about where fishing was allowed or not allowed.
They also cited concerns about the increased mortality of weakened fish released after they are caught, as well as concerns about derelict gear and potential impacts to benthic habitats if hooked fish were to seek shelter on the bottom.
But fishermen argued that the existing policies were the result of long-standing agreements between the sanctuary and charter captains and bait companies.
“These concessions were made in good faith,” an early draft of the advisory council’s recommendation document reads. “If this is taken away, (it) would show that the FKMNS could come in and take away any and all previous agreements or concessions and would fuel animosity and a lack of trust.”
Those opposing the changes also stated that the existing practices allow “historically significant traditional fisheries activities” and “thread the needle” by continuing to allow access only for practices that do not disturb sensitive seafloor habitats.
Some mentioned alternatives to the bait fishing proposal in which the number of bait fishing permits would be capped or become nontransferable, or only fishermen with current FWC permits would be allowed to continue the practice.
Though the balance between No Motor, Idle Speed and No Entry regulations in dozens of Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) throughout the sanctuary remained a hotly contested topic, most fishermen and conservationists agreed that many No Entry zones should be changed to No Motor zones within 300 feet of shorelines, with a 50-foot No Entry zone around areas with currently documented nesting colonies of at-risk bird species. In this proposal, boats would still be allowed to cast from the No Motor zone into the No Entry zone.
Several cited the need for yearly re-evaluation of these WMA zones in accordance with the sanctuary’s new proposed adaptive management procedures to allow for updates with changes in bird populations and observed impacts.
Some council members petitioned the sanctuary to aggressively pursue the addition of artificial reefs, while others urged caution as the sanctuary considers whether these structures are added for the purpose of conservation or extraction of target species.
Many council members showed support for a Keys-specific boating education course, with nearly all agreeing that there is a significant need for better channel marking in sensitive shallow areas. The council discussed challenges in educating the public about rule changes, particularly if information is not clear and obvious on major chartplotting systems used by recreational boaters. All agreed that additional funding for the sanctuary is a high priority, particularly to allow for additional law enforcement.
Armed with the advisory council’s recommendations, sanctuary staff will now consult with stakeholder agencies – including FWC and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, among others – to hear additional recommendations before submitting an updated draft of the Restoration Blueprint for final review at the state and federal levels.
More information about the proposed Restoration Blueprint is at https://floridakeys.noaa.gov/blueprint/.
