Marine Reserves Promising Future for Parks

A key objective in the National Action Plan is to expand and strengthen the network of coral reef marine protected areas, including establishing “no-take” or fully protected marine reserves in 20% of all U.S. coral reef areas by 2010. Research and international experience show that “no-take” marine reserves can be highly effective management tools in restoring degraded ecosystems, replenishing depleted fish stocks, and protecting marine species from overfishing. In January, 2001, two Presidential Proclamations created the Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument and expanded Buck Island Reef National Monument, calling for both areas to be administered as no-take marine reserves. In addition, Dry Tortugas NP completed General Management Plan revisions in July, 2001 that call for nearly half of the park to become a fully protected no-take marine reserve.

Dry Tortugas National Park Research Natural Area. Resources in Dry Tortugas have enjoyed a relatively high level of defacto protection through its isolation from the mainland (approximately 65 miles from the closest mainland road access point). However, the Park’s isolation has diminished and its popularity skyrocketed in recent years. Recreational boats and high-speed catamaran tour boats and seaplanes now offer easier access to Park waters. As a result, visitation to the Park has grown to over 90,000 visitors per year. Recreational usage has greatly increased over the last decade and concerns were growing over depletion of reef fishery resources and overuse of coral reef areas. In 1998, the Park joined with the adjacent Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in planning to establish the Tortugas Ecological Reserve, a process that coordinated science, planning, and a diverse 25-member public Working Group to forge an historic collaboration. The result was a reserve that conserves fisheries, habitats and biological diversity in the Keys. In 2001, Dry Tortugas N.P. completed a revision of its General Management Plan calling for a 46 square-mile Research Natural Area (RNA) to set aside valuable coral reef and seagrass habitats as a no-take zone. The National Marine Sanctuary’s reserve areas protect deep water spawning areas while the Park’s shallow seagrass and coral reef areas provide nurseries for a multitude of species. Currents carry the larvae from Dry Tortugas throughout the entire Keys to support recruitment of important gamefish and foodfish. In addition to protecting vital habitats, this RNA zone provides a rare opportunity for recreational SCUBA divers and snorkelers to view certain reefs in a natural state, free from the impacts of fishing and fishing gear while leaving other areas open to recreational fishing. On November 14, 2006, Florida Governor Jeb Bush and his cabinet concurred with final regulations for Dry Tortugas National Park that establish a Research National area. The new "no-take" marine reserve is 46 square nautical miles in size and adds a critical habitat component to the existing Tortugas Ecological Reserve. Under the approved regulations, 54 square nautical miles of the park remain open to recreational fishing. “Working closely with the state of Florida, we have developed regulations that will protect our fragile marine resources while preserving opportunities for public use,” said Mary Bomar, Director of the National Park Service. “I am particularly pleased the plan was developed through a science-based cooperative process with extensive public involvement and that it is being implemented through a partnership with the state.”

Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument and Buck Island Reef National Monument. The new Virgin Islands Coral Reef N.M. (12,708 acres) was established in January, 2001 to expand protection of marine resources located near the Virgin Islands National Park in St. John. The Monument Proclamation requires full protection from extractive uses for coral reefs, associated habitats and the marine life they sustain. (Virgin Islands National Park prohibits fishing in a much smaller area of about 51 acres within Trunk Bay, where there is an underwater interpretive trail.) Also in 2001, the Buck Island Reef National Monument in St. Croix was expanded by Presidential Proclamation more than twenty times in size (880 acres to over 19,000) and provided full protection from extractive uses. The expansion area includes additional coral reefs (patch, spur and groove, deep and wall) and the unusual “haystacks” of elkhorn coral that attract tour boats to the snorkel trail. Park legislation has consistently provided for a continuance of native trap fisheries and the harvest of reef fish by local inhabitants. However, overfishing, illegal harvest of fish and ongoing mortality from discarded fish traps has seriously depleted fish populations inside and outside of the Virgin Islands parks. Accordingly, the new Virgin Islands Coral Reef N.M. was established and existing Buck Island Reef N.M. expanded largely to restore depleted fish populations and protect reef ecosystems. Each area is entirely no-take except for fishing for bait fish at Hurricane Hole and rod and line fishing for blue runner (hard nose) via permit at the Virgin Islands Coral Reef N.M. Anchoring is prohibited without a permit. Regulations to implement the new Monuments took effect in April, 2003.