![]() These habitats are vulnerable to a variety of potential impacts, and protecting them will increase the resilience of marine ecosystems, allowing them to serve as engines of sustainability for the region's thriving recreation, tourism, and commercial activities that drive coastal economies,” said George (G.P.) Schmahl, superintendent of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. ![]() “The 14 additional reefs and banks proposed for sanctuary expansion have long been recognized as hotspots of marine biodiversity that provide critical ecosystem services for the Gulf of Mexico region. The decision to expand the sanctuary’s boundaries was based on more than three decades of scientific exploration, public calls for additional protections, and extensive coordination with the Sanctuary Advisory Council. “Expanding the sanctuary’s boundaries to include additional habitats in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico recognizes the interconnectedness of Gulf ecosystems and will ensure they are well protected for future generations.” “The Gulf of Mexico is one of the most studied and heavily used waterbodies in the world and has been very important to our nation,” said John Armor, director of NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary encompasses 160 square miles of marine waters in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, protecting 17 reefs and banks that serve as important habitat for a range of wildlife. Small rocky outcrops, other hard-bottom structures, and fields of algal nodules, provide intermittent habitat and food for various species in the region. ![]() While each bank may appear to be geographically isolated from one another, they are interconnected and part of the same ecosystem. Exploration of the banks has revealed extensive habitat supporting significant populations of marine animals at a variety of depths. These geographically separated banks are mountain-like features formed by underlying salt deposits. Research has been focused on the deeper areas around East and West Flower Garden and Stetson Banks, as well as dozens of reefs and banks located along the continental shelf of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Since 1998, the sanctuary research team and partners have used multibeam bathymetry data, scuba diving, submersibles, and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to expand our knowledge of the reefs and banks within the region. Boundaries for these areas were established using the best information available at the time regarding biologically sensitive habitats. A third location, Stetson Bank, was added in 1996, after strong support from local divers. The original designation consisted of two areas located twelve miles apart – East Flower Garden Bank and West Flower Garden Bank. The new sanctuary boundary extends protections to additional essential habitats for commercially and recreationally important fish, as well as habitats for threatened and endangered species, while also minimizing potential user conflicts.įlower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary was designated in 1992, and is located more than 100 miles south of the Texas/Louisiana border in the Gulf of Mexico. The expansion adds 14 additional reefs and banks to the sanctuary, with slight adjustments to the boundaries of the sanctuary's original three banks. Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Triples In Sizeįlower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary has been expanded from 56 to 160 square miles.
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