Dear NOAA & Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission:

The Florida Keys marine sanctuary is a national ecological treasure enjoyed by millions of tourists every year, but corals and marine life inside the sanctuary have been in decline for decades. Because of this, we must act now to stop this decline and rebuild these special places by adopting the strongest recommendations in the Florida Keys Restoration Blueprint. 

Therefore, I support the strongest conservation and restoration measures described in the plan (Alternative 4) to include: 

·      Expanding the sanctuary’s boundaries to include this country’s first twilight reefs at a place called Pulley Ridge;

·      Increasing the number, size, and diversity of actively managed areas within the sanctuary boundaries; and,

·       Strengthening regulations that enhance conservation in the marine sanctuary.

To really protect the corals and habitat at Pulley Ridge, I urge NOAA and the State of Florida to ban all fishing of any kind in the area. Pulley Ridge requires protection from the bottom all the way up to the surface as it functions as one integrated ecosystem from bottom to top.

Thank you,