Keys Anglers: Protect Your Resources!

This week marks a period of review and update of the marine zoning and associated regulations in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Several “scoping meetings” are held, and the public has a chance to have their say in what the managers of the National Wildlife Refuges do to continue to protect the flats and fishing grounds of the Keys.  As usual there are very strong pressures from commercial interests to remove restrictions for jet skis, airboats, and other “tour vessels” which threaten the backcountry with persistent commercial traffic.  There are still two public meetings left—one in Miami and one in Fort Myers—and their times and location are listed below.

For more information, visit http://floridakeys.noaa.gov/review/scoping.html.

June 19: Marathon, FL; Monroe County Government Center; Emergency Operations Center
June 20: Key Largo, FL; Key Largo Library
June 21: Key West, FL; Doubletree Grand Key Resort; Tortuga Ballroom
June 26: Miami, FL; Florida International University; Graham University Center; Room GC243
June 27: Fort Myers, FL; Joseph P. Alessandro Office Complex; Rooms 165 C and D