Proposed Expansion of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary
The United States National Marine Sanctuary System consists of 14 marine protected areas that encompass more than 150,000 square miles of marine and Great Lakes waters. National marine sanctuaries are discrete portions of the marine environment designated to promote comprehensive management of their special conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, research, educational, or aesthetic resources. Sanctuary waters provide a secure habitat for species close to extinction and protect historically significant shipwrecks and artifacts. Each National Marine Sanctuary is managed according to a site-specific planning and management document that describes the objectives, policies and activities for a sanctuary. Management plans generally outline regulatory goals, and describe boundaries, research and education programs. They also guide the development of future management activities.
The Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) is located 70 to 115 miles off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico. FGBNMS consists of three separate areas: East Flower Garden Banks, West Flower Garden Banks, and Stetson Bank. FGBNMS is protected by specific regulations which prohibit anchoring and removal of material and limit fishing, discharges, and other activities within the sanctuary. Currently, the FGBNMS Management Plan is under review. The Management Plan Review is a public process which allows for the original designation documents to be reviewed and to plan for the future of the sanctuary. The FGBNMS Sanctuary Advisory Council was established in 2005 to facilitate communication between Sanctuary staff and stakeholders. The Sanctuary Advisory Council holds public meetings to ensure continued public input on management issues and to increase public awareness and knowledge of the sanctuary environment. Additionally, the SAC provides advice and recommendations to the Sanctuary Manager. FGBNMS staff will use the information provided by the SAC to develop a draft Management Plan.
On 6 December 2007, the FGBNMS Advisory Council officially recommended expanding the boundaries of the FGBNMS in the Gulf of Mexico. The boundary expansion is one of six priority issues identified by the public scoping process, SAC, and sanctuary staff. The proposed boundary expansion includes extension of the existing banks in the sanctuary and the addition of 9 banks.
At the IAGC Seismic Operations in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico Workshop on 11 December 2007, Michael Weiss, NOAA Deputy Director of the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries presented information regarding the proposed FGBNMS expansion and described the Islands in the Stream concept. The Islands in the Stream concept involves establishing a network of discrete protected areas in the GOM (including Mexico and Belize) which are linked by ocean currents. The point of the proposed Islands in the Stream is to ensure conservation of sensitive habitats and communities while providing for uses compatible with the primary objective of conservation. It is important to note that at this time, the Bush Administration is exploring this concept but has not adopted a formal position and a decision has not been made to implement the concept.
IAGC, in conjunction with the American Petroleum Institute’s Marine Wildlife Issues Group (MWIG), has been following these issues closely in the GOM. Over the past several months, MWIG has met with NOAA representatives to discuss both the proposed FGBNMS expansion and the Islands in the Stream concept to develop a dialogue and explain Industry’s concerns regarding continued accessibility in the GOM.
The Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) is located 70 to 115 miles off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico. FGBNMS consists of three separate areas: East Flower Garden Banks, West Flower Garden Banks, and Stetson Bank. FGBNMS is protected by specific regulations which prohibit anchoring and removal of material and limit fishing, discharges, and other activities within the sanctuary. Currently, the FGBNMS Management Plan is under review. The Management Plan Review is a public process which allows for the original designation documents to be reviewed and to plan for the future of the sanctuary. The FGBNMS Sanctuary Advisory Council was established in 2005 to facilitate communication between Sanctuary staff and stakeholders. The Sanctuary Advisory Council holds public meetings to ensure continued public input on management issues and to increase public awareness and knowledge of the sanctuary environment. Additionally, the SAC provides advice and recommendations to the Sanctuary Manager. FGBNMS staff will use the information provided by the SAC to develop a draft Management Plan.
On 6 December 2007, the FGBNMS Advisory Council officially recommended expanding the boundaries of the FGBNMS in the Gulf of Mexico. The boundary expansion is one of six priority issues identified by the public scoping process, SAC, and sanctuary staff. The proposed boundary expansion includes extension of the existing banks in the sanctuary and the addition of 9 banks.
At the IAGC Seismic Operations in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico Workshop on 11 December 2007, Michael Weiss, NOAA Deputy Director of the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries presented information regarding the proposed FGBNMS expansion and described the Islands in the Stream concept. The Islands in the Stream concept involves establishing a network of discrete protected areas in the GOM (including Mexico and Belize) which are linked by ocean currents. The point of the proposed Islands in the Stream is to ensure conservation of sensitive habitats and communities while providing for uses compatible with the primary objective of conservation. It is important to note that at this time, the Bush Administration is exploring this concept but has not adopted a formal position and a decision has not been made to implement the concept.
IAGC, in conjunction with the American Petroleum Institute’s Marine Wildlife Issues Group (MWIG), has been following these issues closely in the GOM. Over the past several months, MWIG has met with NOAA representatives to discuss both the proposed FGBNMS expansion and the Islands in the Stream concept to develop a dialogue and explain Industry’s concerns regarding continued accessibility in the GOM.
