Acosta, A., Bertelsen, R., Maxwell, K.

Performance evaluation of marine zoning in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

2011

Marathon, FL

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute

48

Final Report

"This multi-year project has used a multi-tiered approach to evaluate Marine Protected Areas in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. During the Federal Fiscal Year 11 (Oct. 2010-Sept. 2011), spatial and temporal rates of movement of acoustically tagged snappers and groupers were measured in the Tortugas region, including annual spawning migratory movements between Tortugas South Ecological Reserve (Rileys Hump) and the Tortugas North Ecological Reserve, and the Dry Tortugas National Park, including the Research Natural Area. In addition, the abundance and size-structure of spiny lobsters in and adjacent to the Western Sambo Ecological Reserve were surveyed and spiny lobsters were tagged with acoustic tags north of the lower Keys to evaluate their movement patterns. Results will be used to assess the importance of habitat linkages between adjacent marine protected areas and provide information for an ecosystem-based approach to management of marine resources. "

FY2011 CRCP Project ID 10007; Project Title: F063 Performance Evaluation of Marine Zoning in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary; Principal Investigator: Sarah Fangman