Governor and Cabinet Approve Dry Tortugas Management Agreement

“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. “Moving forward with the National Park Service’s new management plan through this State-federal agreement will enhance the management of marine resources and provide additional protection for the ecosystems, habitats and marine life unique to the Dry Tortugas.”

The National Park Service’s management plan separates the park into a 54 square nautical mile Natural/Cultural Zone and a 46 square mile Research Natural Area. Upon implementation, available activities within the Natural/Cultural Zone would continue to include recreational fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling and boating. The Research Natural Area would be reserved for non-extractive recreation, research and educational activities, with a square-mile radius surrounding Fort Jefferson remaining open for recreational fishing. Commercial fishing is not permitted within the park.

In 2001, Governor Bush and the Cabinet partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish the nearby 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, University of Miami and National Park Service recorded higher fish diversities within the reserve than in fished areas of the Tortugas. Additionally, scientists documented an increase in red groupers and a five fold increase in the abundance of black grouper compared to 1999 and 2000 surveys. According to the report, population increases in reef fishes have also been documented throughout a network of protected marine zones in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

As part of the Dry Tortugas National Park agreement, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will review the proposed special regulations for marine fish. The State and federal partners will work together to implement a research and monitoring program for the marine ecosystem. In addition, the National Park Service 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/.

Read the management agreement and management plan