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    Keys marine sanctuary considering regulating boating party spots
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    What's Happening Serious News's Avatar
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    High-speed boat races and large boating raft-ups may be damaging wildlife and ocean life in protected Florida Keys waters, says a proposed recommendation from local marine-sanctuary advisers.

    Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary managers should consider new rules governing "concentrated uses" and "marine events" as part of the sanctuary's ongoing management-plan update, says a draft resolution from the Sanctuary Advisory Council.

    The volunteer council considers the resolution during its 9 a.m. Tuesday meeting at the Hyatt Place Hotel and Faro Blanco Resort and Marina, 1996 Overseas Highway.

    Council member Martin Moe -- who says he's plagued by scores of boaters and the related noise and trash they bring at the private Lower Matecumbe Key beach he shares with other homeowners -- strongly advocates for the resolution, citing noise and environmental damage caused by nearshore boating parties.

    There are similar spots throughout the Keys, such as Marathon's sandbar off Valhalla and Picnic Island in the Lower Keys.

    "If such gatherings took place on public land within a few hundred feet of any residential area in the Keys," he wrote in an e-mail, "they would be shut down immediately. The only difference is a few feet of water over a sandy or seagrass bottom."

    The Advisory Council lacks direct rule-making authority, but sanctuary managers generally consider its recommendations as representing the voice of Keys residents and businesses.

    A summary says the resolution suggests looking at "land-based noise ordinances to determine if a counterpart could be created in [sanctuary] regulations with the intention of limiting adverse impacts of boat-based [or] water-based noise on wildlife and people."

    One proposal would identify "social gathering areas" or "recreation hotspots" in Keys waters.

    These areas "could receive a special designation [or] zone type [such as] 'Shallow Water Anchoring Zone' or 'Social Gathering Zone' that have special regulations and could be marked with appropriate buoys [and] signage," says the proposal. Those rules could limit noise or number of vessels.

    "Human actions, such as increasing boat groundings, coastal pollution and marine debris continue to negatively affect and degrade the habitat and living resources of the sanctuary but may be improved with long-term management efforts [and] regulatory compliance," says the resolution, citing a 2011 report of local marine conditions.

    Marine events, such as boat races, should be reviewed by staff to ensure the events are "compatible" with sanctuary goals, the proposal says.

    Another resolution reaching the council Tuesday asks sanctuary managers to keep an open mind on artificial-reef proposals when writing the management plan.

    The council's Artificial Habitat Working Group voted to say "there is the potential for value to the placement of artificial habitat within the [sanctuary]. Notably, there are costs and benefits to the approval and appropriate placement of such structures."

    The meeting also will have scientific presentations on the ecology of the Tortugas Ecological Reserve and Pulley Ridge, and a socio-economic report.


    http://www.keysnet.com/2015/08/15/50...nsidering.html
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    #2
    Founding Member Bobcat's Avatar
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    Already shut down, big win for the boating Community. NOAA , like the EPA, is a terrorist organization.
    Parabellum FJ²B
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    #3
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    The "tree huggers" down here are beyond reasonable.
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    #4
    Founding Member / Super Moderator Ratickle's Avatar
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    I'm thinking they should ban lobster trap floats during the Key West races and poker run week!
    Getting bad advice is unfortunate, taking bad advice is a Serious matter!!
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