Management planning is a continuous process. Throughout this management plan are references to annual plan review and five-year revision. Procedures for carrying out plan review and revision are presented below. An indication of scheduling is also provided. procedures will be further refined during the first phase of sanctuary management.
1. Resource Protection Plan Review
Annual review of the Resource Protection Plan involves the participation of NOAA's Sanctuaries and Reserves Division, NOAA's General Counsel in St. Petersburg, Florida the U. S. Coast Guard, the Sanctuary Coordinator and the Sanctuary Interpreter. NOAA's Sanctuaries and Reserves Division assembles an evaluation package that contains, in addition to the latest version of the Resource Protection Plan, the following: (l) an annual report prepared by the Coast Guard that describes surveillance and enforcement activities; (2) an annual report prepared by NOAA's General Counsel in St. Petersburg, Florida that describes the outcome of any legal proceedings resulting from violation of sanctuary regulations; (3) quarterly reports prepared by the Sanctuary Coordinator that describe (d) activities related to surveillance, resource monitoring, visitor use studies, buoy maintenance and any environmental emergencies and (b) evolving management issues related to resource protection; (4) quarterly reports prepared by the Sanctuary Interpreter that describe (d) public response to sanctuary programs and (b) visitor conflicts or controversies. Evaluation packages are mailed to participants. Participants are requested to evaluate (l) whether existing resource protection measures are adequate; (2) whether resource protection strategies are fulfilling management objectives, and (3) whether changes are needed in the existing regime. Participants prepare brief evaluation reports that include recommendations and submit them to NOAA's Sanctuaries and Reserves Division for appropriate action.
2. Resource Studies Plan Review
Annual review of the Resource Studies Plan involves the participation of NOAA's Sanctuaries and Reserves Division, the Sanctuary Coordinator, the Sanctuary Interpreter, and the Resource Studies Steering Committee. NOAA's Sanctuaries and Reserves Division assembles an evaluation package that contains, in addition to the latest version of the Resource Studies Plan, the following: (l) quarterly reports prepared by the Sanctuary Coordinator that (a) highlight achievements of research and monitoring projects in progress or recently completed (both Sanctuary-sponsored and other), (b) summarize progress toward management objectives in the Resource Studies Plan and (c) identify immediate and evolving management issues that could be addressed by resource studies; (2) quarterly reports prepared by the Sanctuary Interpreter that (a) describe interpretive and recreational programs, exhibits and materials that have used information from resource studies and the value of that information, (b) identify new information that is needed to augment interpretive and recreational programs and (c) describe public response to sanctuary sponsored resource studies; and (3) any additional information which would prove useful in the review process. Evaluation packages are mailed to participants and a meeting is scheduled in the sanctuary area. At the meeting, participants are requested to undertake the following tasks: (l) discuss resource studies in progress or recently completed to evaluate the usefulness of the information acquired (2) evaluate progress toward management objectives; (3) discuss immediate and evolving management issues that could be addressed by resource studies; and (4) recommend priority study areas for inclusion in the next version of the Resource Studies Plan. The Sanctuary Coordinator prepares d report which contains committee recommendations and forwards it to NOAA's Sanctuaries and Reserves Division for action. An indication of scheduling is presented in Fig. VIII-2.
3. Interpretation and Recreation Plan Review
Annual review of the Interpretation and Recreation Plan involves the participation of NOAA's Sanctuaries and Reserves Division, the Sanctuary Interpreter, the Sanctuary Coordinator and the Interpretation and Recreation Steering Committee. NOAA's Sanctuaries and Reserves Division assembles an evaluation package that contains, in addition to the latest version of the Interpretation and Recreation Plan, the following: (l) quarterly reports prepared by the Sanctuary Interpreter that (a) highlight major achievements of interpretive and recreational programs in progress or recently completed, (b) summarize progress toward management objectives in the Interpretation and Recreation Plan, (c) highlight special public events or educational programs that the Sanctuary Interpreter took part in, (d) summarize public response to sanctuary interpretive and recreational programs and (e) identify immediate or evolving management issues that could be addressed by interpretive and recreational programs; (2) quarterly reports prepared by the Sanctuary Coordinator that (a) categorize requests received for information on the Sanctuary or for access to sanctuary resource data base, (b) summarize activities related to visitor use monitoring programs and (c) highlight special public events or educational programs that the Sanctuary Coordinator took part in; and (3) any additional information that would prove useful in the review process. Evaluation packages are mailed to participants and a meeting is scheduled in the sanctuary area. At the meeting, participants are requested to undertake the following tasks: (l) discuss interpretive and recreational programs in progress or recently completed to evaluate their usefulness; (2) evaluate progress toward management objectives; (3) discuss immediate and evolving management issues that could be addressed through interpretive and recreational programs; and (4) recommend priority programs for inclusion in the next version of the Interpretation and Recreation Plan. The Sanctuary Interpreter prepares a report that contains committee recommendations and forwards it to NOAA's Sanctuaries and Reserves Division for appropriate action. An indication of scheduling is presented in Fig. VIII-3.
4. Administrative Plan Review
The effectiveness of the Administrative Plan is reviewed annually by NOAA's Sanctuaries Programs Office prior to negotiating the terms of new cooperative agreements with the agencies/parties responsible for on-site sanctuary activities. To this end, NOAA reviews (l) required quarterly performance reports under existing cooperative agreements; (2) the outcome of management plan review; and (3) proposals for new cooperative agreements. Proposals for new cooperative agreements should reflect recommendations from steering committees and the public, and should specify objectives, tasks staffing, facilities, and budget. An indication of scheduling is presented in Fig. VIII-4.
The five-year review proceeds in much the same manner as that described above, except that it is based on cumulative reports. It may be appropriate at this time to hold public meetings in the sanctuary area to discuss progress toward management objectives. The management plan is revised following the five-year review.
Proposals to conduct research at Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary are submitted to NOAA's Sanctuaries and Reserves Division for evaluation and selection following the procedures outlined in Appendix D. Indications of scheduling are presented in Fig. VIII-5 and Fig. VIII-6.
D. Review of Requests for Research Permits
NOAA Research Permits are required when research involves activities that are otherwise prohibited by sanctuary regulations. Applications for permits are submitted to NOAA's Sanctuaries and Reserves Division according to guidelines in Appendix D. The Sanctuary Coordinator and members of the scientific community review and comment on permit requests. NOAA makes final decisions on permit application approvals.