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Description:
Title:
Flower Garden Banks final management plan
Author(s):
Morgan, Jennifer
Wedell, Vicki
Scalliet, Helene
Schmahl, George P.
Hickerson, Emma L. (Emma Louise)
DeBose, Jennifer
DuPuy, Shelley
Hamburger, L. T. Tracy
Holt, Molly
United States, National Ocean Service., Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
United States, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
Coral Reef Conservation Program (U.S.)
National Marine Protected Areas Center (U.S.)
Corporate Name:
United States, National Ocean Service., Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
United States, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
Coral Reef Conservation Program (U.S.)
National Marine Protected Areas Center (U.S.)
Dates of Publication:
2012
Abstract:
Located in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico (Gulf), 70 to 115 miles off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS or sanctuary) includes three separated undersea features: East Flower Garden Bank, West Flower Garden Bank and Stetson Bank. The Banks range in depth from 55 feet to nearly 500 feet and are underwater hills formed by rising domes of ancient salt. The Banks provided a wide range of habitat conditions that support several distinct biological communities, including the northernmost coral reefs in the continental United States. These and similar formations throughout the northern Gulf of Mexico provide the foundation for essential habitat for a variety of species. The combination of location and geology makes FGBNMS extremely productive and diverse, and presents a unique set of challenges for managing and protecting its natural wonders. East and West Flower Garden Banks were designated a national marine sanctuary in 1992 for purposes of protecting and managing the conservation, ecological, recreational, research, education, and historic and aesthetic resources and qualities of these areas...Stetson Bank was added to the sanctuary in 1996...The management plan for both FGBNMS was originally developed in 1991 as part of the designation process...The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) is required to periodically review sanctuary management plans to ensure that sanctuary sites continue to best conserve, protect and enhance their nationally significant living and cultural resources. Upon such review, NOAA has decided to update and revise the 1991 Flower Garden Banks management plan to address recent scientific discoveries, advancements in managing marine resources, and new resource management issues. In September 2006, the sanctuary embarked on its first Management Plan Review (MPR), a public process to examine the original destination documents, management plan and regulations, and evaluate them for the future. The sanctuary mission--revised with review of this management plan--is to identify, protect, conserve, and enhance the natural and cultural resources, values, and qualities of FGBNMS and its regional environment for this and future generations"--Executive Summary (page 7).
Keywords:
Coral reef conservation
Coral reef management
Management
Marine ecosystem management
Marine habitat conservation
Marine parks and reserves
Marine resources conservation
Place Keywords:
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (Tex.)
Texas
Gulf Coast
Local Corporate Name:
NOS (National Ocean Service)
ONMS (Office of National Marine Sanctuaries)
CoRIS (Coral Reef Information System)
MPA (Marine Protected Areas)
Type of Resource:
Program & Policy Document
Note:
Located in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico (Gulf), 70 to 115 miles off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS or sanctuary) includes three separated undersea features: East Flower Garden Bank, West Flower Garden Bank and Stetson Bank. The Banks range in depth from 55 feet to nearly 500 feet and are underwater hills formed by rising domes of ancient salt. The Banks provided a wide range of habitat conditions that support several distinct biological communities, including the northernmost coral reefs in the continental United States. These and similar formations throughout the northern Gulf of Mexico provide the foundation for essential habitat for a variety of species. The combination of location and geology makes FGBNMS extremely productive and diverse, and presents a unique set of challenges for managing and protecting its natural wonders. East and West Flower Garden Banks were designated a national marine sanctuary in 1992 for purposes of protecting and managing the conservation, ecological, recreational, research, education, and historic and aesthetic resources and qualities of these areas...Stetson Bank was added to the sanctuary in 1996...The management plan for both FGBNMS was originally developed in 1991 as part of the designation process...The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) is required to periodically review sanctuary management plans to ensure that sanctuary sites continue to best conserve, protect and enhance their nationally significant living and cultural resources. Upon such review, NOAA has decided to update and revise the 1991 Flower Garden Banks management plan to address recent scientific discoveries, advancements in managing marine resources, and new resource management issues. In September 2006, the sanctuary embarked on its first Management Plan Review (MPR), a public process to examine the original destination documents, management plan and regulations, and evaluate them for the future. The sanctuary mission--revised with review of this management plan--is to identify, protect, conserve, and enhance the natural and cultural resources, values, and qualities of FGBNMS and its regional environment for this and future generations"--Executive Summary (page 7).
2012
NOS (National Ocean Service)
ONMS (Office of National Marine Sanctuaries)
CoRIS (Coral Reef Information System)
MPA (Marine Protected Areas)
Library
Public Domain
1936
URL:
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