Research Area Recommendations Recommendation # 1       Significant research questions exist at Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary (GRNMS) that can only be addressed by establishing a control (research) area. Therefore, it is the finding of NOAA GRNMS, based on the recommendation of the Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC) and the Research Area Working Group (RAWG), that the research area concept should be further explored through a public review process. Recommendation # 2       The SAC recommends that as many appropriate tools as feasible, especially a GIS (Geographic Information Systems, geographic and spatial analysis software) site evaluation tool and a RAWG be used to investigate a research area with proper siting criteria. Recommendation # 3       The SAC recommends consideration of the diversity of habitat (with emphasis on high relief habitat) as the primary siting criterion.  The RAWG should be maintained to support NOAA GRNMS in consideration of these various criteria (e.g., habitat, size, existing research and monitoring sites, bottom fishing data) in developing proposed options for a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). Recommendation # 4       The SAC recommends minimizing impacts to user communities including fishing, diving, research, and resource management and considers this a priority under the research area concept. The SAC also endorses the RAWG finding that non-bottom impinging activities are not viewed as conflicting with the primary objectives of a proposed research area.