Resources

Management Plan Resources

• Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary's State of the Sanctuary Report (2006) PDF

• Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary's Management Plan Review Fact Sheet PDF

• Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary's Scoping Meetings Fact Sheet PDF

• Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary's Summary of Public Scoping Comments PDF

• Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary's Advisory Council: Council Seats Web page

Credit: FGBNMS

Working Group Questions and Resources

Impacts from Visitor Use

Questions

• Should the public be allowed to visit the FGBNMS or other marine protected areas? Why or why not?

• What groups of people currently visit the FGBNMS?

• What are some of the positive impacts of having visitors at the sanctuary? How could these positive impacts be increased?

• What are some of the negative impacts of having visitors at the sanctuary? How could these negative impacts be decreased?
  

Resources

General

• Environmental Protection Agency's Coral Reefs and Your Coastal Watershed Web page

• United Nations Environment Program's It's up to you…'Coral or no coral'? Web site

• United Nations Environment Program's Tourism's Impact on Reefs Web page

• NOAA's Solutions to Specific Coral Reef Threats Web page

• NOAA's National Coral Reef Action Strategy: Coral Reefs-Threatened Ecosystems PDF

FGBNMS

• Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary's Visiting Your Sanctuary Web page

• National Marine Sanctuaries' Flower Garden Banks: Photo Gallery: People and the Sanctuary Web page

• Jean-Michel Cousteau Ocean Adventures' Guide to America's National Marine Sanctuaries: Flower Garden Banks Web site

• NOAA's The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the Flower Garden Banks, Stetson Bank, and Other Banks in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico PDF

• U.S. House of Representatives' Congressional Record: H.R. 3886: Amending Boundaries of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Web page

• NOAA's National Coral Reef Action Strategy: Ranking of Major Threats to Coral Reef Ecosystems By Region PDF

Some visitors to the FGBNMS take beautiful underwater photos that they share with the sanctuary staff and the public. This photo of a spotted scorpionfish was taken by two regular visitors to the sanctuary. Credit: Joyce and Frank Burek

Protection of Additional Habitat in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico

Questions

• How are national marine sanctuaries protected in ways that other regions of the ocean are not?

• How have the boundaries of the FGBNMS changed over time?

• What are the current boundaries of the FGBNMS? Should these boundaries be expanded to include additional nearby regions in the Gulf? Why or why not?

• If new regions should be added, which regions should they be? Explain.

Resources

General

• National Marine Sanctuaries' Frequently Asked Questions Web page

• GulfBase's Reefs, Banks and Islands Web site

• The International Coral Reef Action Network's Effective Coral Reef Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) PDF

• Immersion Presents Secrets of the Gulf Web site

FGBNMS

• Electronic Code of Federal Regulations' Title 15: Commerce and Foreign Trade: Part 922: National Marine Sanctuary Program Regulations: Subpart L-Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Web page

• U.S. House of Representatives' Congressional Record: H.R. 3886: Amending Boundaries of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Web page

• Federal Register's 15 CFR Part 922: Boundary Changes in the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary; Addition of Stetson Bank and Technical Corrections; Final Rule PDF

• NOAA Ocean Explorer's Gulf of Mexico: Connecting the Dots Web page

• NOAA Ocean Explorer's Sustainable Seas Expedition: Northwestern Gulf of Mexico Topographic Features Web page

• NOAA's Ocean Explorer's Islands in the Stream Web site

• National Marine Sanctuaries' Flower Garden Banks: Photo Gallery: People and the Sanctuary Web page

Each red dot marks the location of a salt dome structure in or around the FGBNMS. Credit: Kathleen Cantner

Impacts from Fishing

Questions

• What are some of the general impacts of fishing on coral reef ecosystems?

• What kinds of fishing are allowed within the waters of the FGBNMS? What kinds of fishing are not allowed?

• How do current fishing practices at the FGBNMS affect the balance of life in the sanctuary?

• Are additional fishing regulations needed at the FGBNMS and/or in surrounding areas? Why or why not?
  

Resources

General

• NOAA's When Fishing is Destructive Web page

• Environmental Protection Agency's Coral Reefs and Your Coastal Watershed Web page

• Environmental News Service's Fishing, Climate Change, Development Jeopardize U.S. Coral Reefs Web page

• NOAA's Solutions to Specific Coral Reef Threats Web page

• NOAA's National Coral Reef Action Strategy: Goal 6: Reduce Impacts of Fishing PDF

• The International Coral Reef Action Network's Methods for Ecological Monitoring of Coral Reefs PDF (see Preface-p. vi-for breakdown of threats and impacts to reefs)

• United Nations Environment Program's Tips for Safe Navigation Web page

• Reef Environmental Education Foundation's Fish Survey Project Database Web site

FGBNMS

• Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary's Regulations Summary PDF

• Electronic Code of Federal Regulations' Title 15: Commerce and Foreign Trade: Part 922: National Marine Sanctuary Program Regulations: Subpart L-Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Web page

• U.S. House of Representatives' Congressional Record: H.R. 3886: Amending Boundaries of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Web page

• NOAA Ocean Explorer's Gulf of Mexico: The Wondrous World of Deep Reef Fishes Web page

• Texas GEMS' Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Web page

• Bridge's Fish Communities: U.S. National Marine Sanctuaries: Southeast Region Web page

• National Marine Sanctuaries' Flower Garden Banks: Photo Gallery: People and the Sanctuary Web page

• NOAA's National Coral Reef Action Strategy: Ranking of Major Threats to Coral Reef Ecosystems By Region PDF

Sometimes fishing rigs get caught on the reefs at the FGBNMS. Credit: Joyce and Frank Burek

Enforcement of Regulations

Questions

• What are some of the challenges of solving crimes that take place far from shore and/or underwater?

• What kinds of regulations are in place to protect the life at the FGBNMS?

• How are the current regulations enforced?

• Are the current regulations and enforcement methods enough to keep negative impacts to a minimum? How do you know? If current regulations and enforcement methods are not good enough, what changes are needed?
  

Resources

General

• NOAA Fisheries' Office for Law Enforcement Web site

• NOAA's National Coral Reef Action Strategy: Coral Reefs-Threatened Ecosystems PDF

• The International Coral Reef Action Network's Methods for Ecological Monitoring of Coral Reefs PDF (see Preface-p. vi-for breakdown of threats and impacts to reefs)

• The International Coral Reef Action Network's Effective Coral Reef Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) PDF

FGBNMS

• Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary's Regulations Web page

• Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary's Enforcement Web page

• National Marine Sanctuaries' Flower Garden Banks: Photo Gallery: People and the Sanctuary Web page

• NOAA's The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the Flower Garden Banks, Stetson Bank, and Other Banks in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico PDF

• National Environmental Policy Act's Compendium of Useful Practices: Adaptive Management & Monitoring: Flower Garden Banks Web page

• National Marine Sanctuary Foundation's The Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary-A Success Story With Strange Bedfellows PDF

• Bridge's Fish Communities: U.S. National Marine Sanctuaries: Southeast Region Web page

The Coast Guard Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas, has worked with FGBNMS staff members to conduct flyovers of the sanctuary. Credit: FGBNMS

Education and Outreach

Questions

• Why is education and outreach an important issue for marine protected areas?

• What kinds of educational resources and outreach programs are currently offered by the FGBNMS?

• Are there any important messages about the sanctuary that are not getting communicated by the current educational offerings? If so, what are they?

• How could the sanctuary improve its educational resources and outreach programs?
  

Resources

General

• NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program's Coral Reef Outreach and Education Web page

• NOAA's National Coral Reef Action Strategy: Goal 10: Improve Outreach and Education PDF

• United Nations Environment Program's Coral Reefs: Communication Tool Kit Web page

• NOAA's National Coral Reef Action Strategy: Coral Reefs-Threatened Ecosystems PDF

FGBNMS

• Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary's Education Web page

• National Marine Sanctuaries Media's Flower Garden Banks: Education and Outreach Web page

• National Marine Sanctuary Foundation's The Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary-A Success Story With Strange Bedfellows PDF

• NOAA's The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the Flower Garden Banks, Stetson Bank, and Other Banks in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico PDF

• National Marine Sanctuaries' Flower Garden Banks: Photo Gallery: People and the Sanctuary Web page

• NOAA Ocean Explorer's Gulf of Mexico: Connecting the Dots Web page

• Jean-Michel Cousteau Ocean Adventures' Guide to America's National Marine Sanctuaries: Flower Garden Banks Web site

• NOAA's National Coral Reef Action Strategy: Ranking of Major Threats to Coral Reef Ecosystems By Region PDF

• Texas GEMS' Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Web pageTexas GEMS' Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Web page

• Minerals Management Service's Environmental Studies Program Results at the East and West Flower Garden Banks Web page (click here for PDF of full report)

Sanctuary staff members use a coral reef model to teach kids about marine ecosystems. Credit: Joyce and Frank Burek

Stakeholder Resources

Oli and Gas Industry

General

• Minerals Management Service's History of Offshore Oil and Gas Development in the Gulf of Mexico Web page

• NOAA Ocean Explorer's Expedition to the Deep Slope: Oil and Gas Exploration Web page

• NOAA Ocean Explorer's Sustainable Seas Expedition: Northwestern Gulf of Mexico Topographic Features Web page

• Cyber Diver News Network's Gulf sanctuary: Should oil rigs be left in place? Web page

FGBNMS

• National Marine Sanctuaries' Flower Garden Banks: Photo Gallery: People and the Sanctuary Web page

• National Environmental Policy Act's Compendium of Useful Practices: Adaptive Management & Monitoring: Flower Garden Banks Web page

• Capitol Hill Oceans Week 2003 Presentation: Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary: A "Garden in the Gulf" PDF

• National Marine Sanctuary Foundation's The Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary-A Success Story With Strange Bedfellows PDF

• Minerals Management Service's Environmental Studies Program Results at the East and West Flower Garden Banks Web page (click here for PDF of full report)

This petroleum production platform is located within the boundaries of the FGBNMS. Credit: Joyce and Frank Burek

Fishing

General

• NOAA's When Fishing is Destructive Web page

• Environmental Protection Agency's Coral Reefs and Your Coastal Watershed Web page

• Environmental News Service's Fishing, Climate Change, Development Jeopardize U.S. Coral Reefs Web page

• NOAA's Solutions to Specific Coral Reef Threats Web page

• NOAA's National Coral Reef Action Strategy: Goal 6: Reduce Impacts of Fishing PDF

• The International Coral Reef Action Network's Methods for Ecological Monitoring of Coral Reefs PDF (see Preface-p. vi-for breakdown of threats and impacts to reefs)

• United Nations Environment Program's Tips for Safe Navigation Web page

• Reef Environmental Education Foundation's Fish Survey Project Database Web site

FGBNMS

• Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary's Regulations Summary PDF

• Electronic Code of Federal Regulations' Title 15: Commerce and Foreign Trade: Part 922: National Marine Sanctuary Program Regulations: Subpart L-Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Web page

• U.S. House of Representatives' Congressional Record: H.R. 3886: Amending Boundaries of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Web page

• NOAA Ocean Explorer's Gulf of Mexico: The Wondrous World of Deep Reef Fishes Web page

• Texas GEMS' Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Web page

• Bridge's Fish Communities: U.S. National Marine Sanctuaries: Southeast Region Web page

• National Marine Sanctuaries' Flower Garden Banks: Photo Gallery: People and the Sanctuary Web page

• NOAA's Encylopedia of the Sanctuary: Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary: Fish Web site

Two yellow-mouth groupers swim above brain coral and below a school of fish at the FGBNMS. Credit: FGBNMS/Schmahl

Diving

General

• The International Coral Reef Action Network's Coral Friendly Diving PDF

• The International Coral Reef Action Network's Underwater Cleanup PDF

• NOAA's Solutions to Specific Coral Reef Threats Web page

• United Nations Environment Program's Tourism's Impact on Reefs Web page

• United Nations Environment Program's It's up to you…'Coral or no coral'? Web site

• Cyber Diver News Network's Gulf sanctuary: Should oil rigs be left in place? Web page

FGBNMS

• Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary's Visiting Your Sanctuary Web page

• Dave Read's Diving the Flower Gardens Banks National Marine Sanctuary Web site

• Mark Walden's Diving the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Web site

• Gulf Diving's Frequently Asked Questions PDF

• National Marine Sanctuaries' Flower Garden Banks: Photo Gallery: People and the Sanctuary Web page

• NOAA's The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the Flower Garden Banks, Stetson Bank, and Other Banks in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico PDF

• Jean-Michel Cousteau Ocean Adventures' Guide to America's National Marine Sanctuaries: Flower Garden Banks Web site

• Texas GEMS' Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Web page

A diver swims above the reef at Stetson Bank. Credit: FGBNMS/Schmahl

Research

General

• National Marine Sanctuaries' Research Web page

• NOAA's National Coral Reef Action Strategy: Goal 3: Conduct Strategic Research PDF

• The International Coral Reef Action Network's Methods for Ecological Monitoring of Coral Reefs PDF (see Preface-p. vi-for breakdown of threats and impacts to reefs)

FGBNMS

• Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary's Science Web page

• Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary's Document Library: Science Documents Web page

• National Marine Sanctuaries' Flower Garden Banks: Photo Gallery: People and the Sanctuary Web page

• Caribbean Conservation Corporation & Sea Turtle Survival League's Flower Garden Banks Sea Turtle Project Web site

• Jean-Michel Cousteau Ocean Adventures' Guide to America's National Marine Sanctuaries: Flower Garden Banks Web site

• NOAA's The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the Flower Garden Banks, Stetson Bank, and Other Banks in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico PDF

• Texas GEMS' Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Web page

• Minerals Management Service's Environmental Studies Program Results at the East and West Flower Garden Banks Web page (click here for PDF of full report)

A diver takes a photograph at one of the repetitive photography stations at Stetson Bank.Credit: Joyce and Frank Burek

Conservation

General

• NOAA's Coral Health and Monitoring Program (CHAMP) Web site

• The Ocean Conservancy's Issues Web site

• NOAA's Marine Debris Program Web site

• United Nations Environment Program's Tourism's Impact on Reefs Web page

• United Nations Environment Program's It's up to you…'Coral or no coral'? Web site

• The International Coral Reef Action Network's Effective Coral Reef Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) PDF

• The International Coral Reef Action Network's Methods for Ecological Monitoring of Coral Reefs PDF (see Preface-p. vi-for breakdown of threats and impacts to reefs)

• NOAA's National Coral Reef Action Strategy: Coral Reefs-Threatened Ecosystems PDF

• The International Coral Reef Action Network's Underwater Cleanup PDF

FGBNMS

• Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary's Regulations Summary PDF

• NOAA's The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the Flower Garden Banks, Stetson Bank, and Other Banks in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico PDF

• National Marine Sanctuaries' Flower Garden Banks: Photo Gallery: People and the Sanctuary Web page

• National Environmental Policy Act's Compendium of Useful Practices: Adaptive Management & Monitoring: Flower Garden Banks Web page

• Jean-Michel Cousteau Ocean Adventures' Guide to America's National Marine Sanctuaries: Flower Garden Banks Web site

• Caribbean Conservation Corporation & Sea Turtle Survival League's Flower Garden Banks Sea Turtle Project Web site

• U.S. House of Representatives' Congressional Record: H.R. 3886: Amending Boundaries of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Web page

• Cyber Diver News Network's Gulf sanctuary: Should oil rigs be left in place? Web page

• Minerals Management Service's Environmental Studies Program Results at the East and West Flower Garden Banks Web page (click here for PDF of full report)

The coral in this photograph was damaged by an unknown source. Credit: Joyce and Frank Burek