Resolution 061-2009
Mayor Neugent
RESOLUTION NO. 061 - 2009
A RESOLUTION BY THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS SUPPORTING THE CREATION OF A
SANCTUARY PRESERVATION AREA (SPA) WITHIN THE FLORIDA
KEYS NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY (FKNMS) AT THE REEF
AREA KNOWN AS SNAPPER LEDGE, TAVERNER, KEY LARGO,
FLORIDA, REQUESTING THAT THE SANCTUARY ADVISORY
COUNCIL CONSIDER AND APPROVE A SIMILAR
RECOMMENDATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF PROVIDING
LASTING PROTECTION TO THIS VITAL AND UNIQUE SANCTUARY
RESOURCE AND PROVIDING FOR TRANSMITTAL OF THIS
RESOLUTION TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SANCTUARY
ADVISORY COUNCIL AND THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE
FLORIDA KEYS NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY.
WHEREAS, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Final Management Plan
(FKNMS FMP) gained final approval by Congress, as noted in the Federal Register on June, 12
1997; and
WHEREAS, the FMP establishes a Zoning Action Plan; and
WHEREAS, the goals of the Zoning Action Plan are (to):
.
protect and preserve sensitive areas of the ecosystem by regulating certain
activities that occur within the zoned areas, and by facilitating activities that are
compatible with resource protection;
ensure that areas of high ecological importance evolve naturally, with minimal
human influence; and
protect areas representing a wide variety of habitats, and areas that are important
for maintaining natural resources and ecosystem functions; and
.
.
WHEREAS, each zone or area is designed to reduce damage to the environment, while
allowing recreational activities to occur, as long as they are compatible with resource protection;
and
WHEREAS, the Objectives necessary to achieve these goals are:
.
reduce stresses from human activities by establishing areas that restrict access to
especially sensitive wildlife populations and habitats;
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Mayor Neugent
· protect biological diversity and the quality of resources by protecting large,
contiguous diverse habitats that are intended to provide natural spawning, nursery,
and permanent residence areas for the replenishment and genetic protection of
marine life and to protect and preserve all habitats and species;
· minimize conflicting uses;
· protect Sanctuary resources and separate conflicting uses by establishing a
number of non-consumptive zones in areas that are experiencing conflict between
consumptive and non-consumptive uses and in areas that are experiencing
significant population or habitat declines;
· eliminate injury to critical! sensitive habitats;
· prevent heavy concentrations of uses that degrade Sanctuary resources;
· provide undisturbed monitoring sites for research activities by setting areas aside
for scientific research, monitoring, and restoration;
· provide control sites to help determine the effects of human activities on
resources; and
· disperse concentrated harvests of marine organisms; and
WHEREAS, Sanctuary Preservation Areas (SP As) protect shallow, heavily used coral
reef communities where conflicts often occur between user groups; and
WHEREAS, the majority of these shallow reef habitats are scattered along the outer reef
tract and are the coral reefs most frequently visited by snorkelers and divers; and
WHEREAS, these areas, critical for sustaining important marine species and habitats,
are the component of the coral reef ecosystem most vulnerable to direct human impact (e.g.
anchor damage, boating impact, diver and snorkeler impacts, concentrated harvest by divers, and
damage done by inexperienced fishermen) and indirect from water pollution impacts; and
WHEREAS, from time to time the FKNMS considers amendments to its Management
Plan, including the adoption of new unique areas worthy of heightened protection; and
WHEREAS, Snapper Ledge, a popular dive site off of Tavernier in the Florida Keys, is
such a deserving area and overwhelmingly meets the criteria to be considered as a Sanctuary
Preservation Area; and
WHEREAS, Snapper Ledge is home to some of the most dense and diverse marine life
populations in the area. Divers regularly report the presence of large schools of grunts, snappers,
and many other species of fish, including parrotfish, rays, lobsters, and more. Divers also report
that although the extreme density of marine life is present during the entire year, it is
concentrated only in the immediate area around what is commonly known as Snapper Ledge; and
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Mayor Neugent
WHEREAS, Divespots.com describes Snapper Ledge as follows, "Often, the schools of
fish are so thick that you cannot see through them. You can usually count on seeing a few nurse
sharks along with green and spotted Moray Eels. Other frequent sightings include Goat Fish,
Hog Snappers, Trunk Fish, Sea Urchins, Crabs, Lobster, Nurse Sharks, Spider and Arrow Crabs,
Rays, Octopus, Corkscrew Anenome, Eel, Cleaner Shrimp, Butter Hamlet, and Hawk Fish;" and
WHEREAS, "One of the largest and healthiest Boulder Brain Corals (Colpophyllia
natans) in the Upper Keys can be found on Snapper's Ledge making this site is an exceptional
location for both snorkeling and diving -- a serious "Must Dive" site in the keys;" and
WHEREAS, unfortunately, Snapper Ledge has become the focus of some irresponsible
spear and recreational fishing activities; and
WHEREAS, on a number of occasions nurse sharks have been the subject unscrupulous
fishing activities such that mature animals have been caught, gutted and left to die; and
WHEREAS, by virtue of its unusually dense concentration of marine life and value as a
marquee dive site for recreational SCUBA divers, Snapper Ledge should be protected as a
Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA), just as Molasses Reef and French Reef are protected. There
are plenty of other places to spear fish off Tavernier and Islamorada, and to decimate the fish
populations at Snapper Ledge is shortsighted, now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS,
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA THAT:
Section 1.
The above recital is true and correct and is incorporated herein by reference; and
Section 2.
The Commission, by majority vote, seeks Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA)
status for Snapper Ledge and further request the enactment of regulation a part
thereto prohibiting the taking of any and all types of marine creatures, sponges,
corals, aquatic plants and grasses from the waters around the dive site commonly
known as Snapper Ledge, Tavernier, Key Largo, Florida Keys, Florida by any and
all means; and
Section 3.
The Commission requests that the Sanctuary Advisory Council consider similar
recommendations for Snapper Ledge as one of the most unique Sanctuary
resource areas; and
Section 4.
This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption; and
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Mayor Neugent
Section 5.
The Clerk, immediatel upon execution, transmit this Resolution to the Chairman
of the Sanctuary Advisory Council and Superintendent of the Florida Keys
National Marine Sanctuary.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners, Monroe County,
Florida at a regular meeting of said Board held on the 18th day of February, A.D., 2009.
Mayor George Neugent Yes
Mayor Pro Tem Sylvia Murpby Yes
Commissioner Kim Wigington Yes
Commissioner Heather Carrutbers Yes
Commissioner Di Gennaro Yes
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
BY: ~"..~.. KJoI.4'~
MAYOR GEORGE NEUGENT
ATTEST: DAN~ CLERK
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