Biscayne National Park Workshop on General Management Plan Alternatives 4, 6, and 7 PUBLIC WORKSHOP 6:00 p.m. Presentation 6:30 p.m. Break-out discussions 8:00 p.m. Small group report out 9:00 p.m. Adjourn

Purpose of Meeting Share your ideas, suggestions and concerns regarding MRZ and SRZ Small group discussion Update on public comments Review proposed marine reserve zone (MRZ) and special recreation zone (SRZ) Review our planning process and public engagement activities 1

Purpose of Biscayne National Park “To preserve and protect for the education, inspiration, recreation, and enjoyment of present and future generations a rare combination of terrestrial, marine, and amphibious life in a tropical setting of great natural beauty.” 2

Biscayne National Park Highlights One of the largest marine parks (95% water) in the national park system Recreation destination for half a million people annually Generates economic benefits for local communities ($38.9 million in 2013) 3

General Management Plan Basics What is a General Management Plan? Provides zoning for the whole park Sets desired resource conditions and visitor experiences Provides a framework for decisions by future park managers to: – protect resources & provide visitor experiences – manage visitor use – maintain and develop facilities as appropriate 4

Key Issues Coral reefs Fisheries Visitor experience Interagency cooperation 5

Public workshops held to determine potential marine reserve zone (no fishing zone) Science review determined best marine reserve zone configurations Supplemental Draft Plan published and public meetings held General Management Plan Time Line 6 Park began the planning process Public scoping meetings held Final Plan Published Record of Decision signed Draft Plan published and public meetings held Focused public workshops held to compare special recreation zone to marine reserve zone

Alternatives 4, 6, and 7 ALTERNATIVE 4 – Includes a Marine Reserve Zone – 2011 preferred alternative – Details in the Draft Plan ALTERNATIVE 6 – Includes a Special Recreation Zone with Special Activity License – 2013 preferred alternative – Details in the 2013 Supplemental to the Draft Plan ALTERNATIVE 7 – Includes a Special Recreation Zone with seasonal fishing closure – Details in the 2013 Supplemental to the Draft Plan 7

Current condition Used for comparison 8

Provide memorable visitor experience while maintaining a healthier reef Protect aquatic community and reef ecosystem Improve fishing opportunities outside of zone from spillover Reduced Legare Anchorage protected area 9

Location of zones similar to Alt 4 Special Recreation Zone 39% larger Protect 70% of park’s reefs Reduced Legare Anchorage protected area 10

Actions Common to Marine Reserve and Special Recreation Zones Aquatic habitats and quality of visitor experience (includes fishing) monitored Law enforcement and education increased Anchoring allowed as buoys are phased in Diving allowed Spearfishing for lionfish allowed Commercial fishing prohibited (except ballyhoo) 11

Comparison of Marine Reserve and Special Recreation Zones MRZ ALTERNATIVE 4 Protected area (10,522 acres) No fishing allowed Unique opportunity to experience healthier natural coral reef system Ecological restoration benefits expected at a quicker rate Spillover effect with increased fish size and abundance in areas surrounding the MRZ SRZ ALTERNATIVES 6 & 7 Protected area (14,585 acres) Unique fishing opportunity - larger and more diverse fish Unique opportunity to experience healthier natural coral reef system Adaptive management applied ALTERNATIVE 6 - # Permits dependent on habitat and fish response. Fee would be assessed ALTERNATIVE 7 - Permits not required, but open season from October to May 12

Public Comments Continuing engagement with stakeholders via community presentations, briefings, and in-field visits 2013 heard from ~14,000 commenters – 1,800 unique comments (not form letters) – Vast majority supported a MRZ – Many concerns about SRZ in ALTERNATIVE 6 – Few comments regarding ALTERNATIVE heard from ~18,000 commenters – 1,200 unique comments (not form letters) – Vast majority supported an MRZ – Concerns raised about limiting fishing access 13

Many aspects of ALTERNATIVES 4, 6, and 7 are well supported: Broad Public Support 14 Bay and Ocean Waters – Implement approved fishery management plan – Maintain Fowey Rocks Lighthouse – Increased protection in a smaller area for Legare Anchorage Mainland – Add platform and boardwalk at Convoy Point – Install informational kiosks outside park boundary Keys – Pursue acquisition from willing sellers at Ragged Keys 2, 3, 5 – Add canoe dock at Porgy – Add new kayak/canoe staging area at Adams and Elliott – Implement a protection zone at Arsenicker, West Arsenicker, and Swan

General Public Concerns about Marine Reserve and Special Recreation Zones Anchoring (safety and access) Education and law enforcement levels Concerns about fishing pressure outside of MRZ/SRZ Economic impacts (tourism and guided and commercial fishing) 15

Literature/science support No-take compared to seasonal effectiveness Administrative challenge of Special Activity Licenses (ALTERNATIVE 6) Effectiveness of different proposals Suggested changes to monitoring strategy Individuals compared to boats Flexible timeframes - seasonal, weekly, daily options Increase number of licenses issued to match demand Suggested changes to Special Activity License (SAL) numbers Specific Public Concerns about Marine Reserve and Special Recreation Zones 16 Suggested changes to the borders and location of zones Size Purpose and how MRZ and SRZ differ Location Restrictions

Updated Information: Special Activity License Numbers 17 Estimates of Special Activity Licenses issued based on:

Updated Information: Effectiveness of Marine Reserve Zone After five years, Dry Tortugas no-take Research Natural Area is consistent with other studies of other no-take areas in the Florida Keys: documented improvement for red grouper, black grouper, mutton snapper, yellowtail snapper, and hogfish detected “spillover effect” (more and larger fish in surrounding areas) no difference in trends in stony coral cover 18

Updated Information: Effectiveness of Seasonal Closures Research on effects of seasonal closures shows variable results: documented fisheries management success for single species applications potential for benefit reversal when season opens habitat and other species may not realize benefits Would like to have input from the public regarding seasonal closures (ALTERNATIVE 7) 19

Tonight’s Discussion Format Small group break out at tables as assigned upon entry Group recorder Allow time to discuss all topics (on next slide) Report to full group the full suite of ideas and concerns discussed Please respect differences of opinion 20

Thinking about the MRZ/SRZ: 1.What management aspects can you support, and why? 2.What management aspects are you concerned about, and why? 3.What are your suggestions for the park’s Final General Management Plan? Discussion Topics 21 Break-out group report back at 8:00 p.m.