Research Area Intro Gathering information on the status and natural variability of fish communities, habitat and ecological systems is essential for informed management of Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary. Even today, there are many questions we have yet to answer and much information we have yet to gather. In order to fill in these gaps in our and the public’s knowledge about the overall health of the Sanctuary and the living communities it supports, Gray’s Reef needs a control area within the Sanctuary where it can take baseline measurements over time. We need to be able to better understand how the Sanctuary functions and to tell the difference between human-induced and natural changes. That is why Gray’s Reef is considering a research or control area within the Sanctuary. The Questions We Want To Answer Currently, Gray’s Reef management does not have the answers to these and other questions: What impacts do extractible activities have on the reef and living marine resources? What would the fish populations and invertebrate communities look like in the absence of fishing impacts? What impacts would the removal of targeted species have on the more “resident” fish? How does one scientifically contrast community structure between “natural” reefs and reefs that have been influenced by human activities? What are the spatial and temporal dynamics of fish communities in a natural population? What variability in the natural system is inherent and what are results of human impact? How well is NOAA conserving the resources of Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary? Having a research or control area within the Sanctuary will help us answer these and other questions. It will help us better manage the resources of your Sanctuary. The Public Process The concept of a research area within the Sanctuary has been under discussion since 1999. During the recent management plan review process, the Gray’s Reef Sanctuary Advisory Council, with approval of the sanctuary superintendent, formed a broad-based working group to further consider the concept of a research area within the Sanctuary. The conclusion of the Research Area Working Group was that significant research questions exist at GRNMS that can only be addressed by establishing a research (control) area. As a result of the work of this working group, GRNMS adopted this concept and recommendations in a strategy of the Management Plan released in 2006. In October 2007, the Research Area Working Group met to further refine the selection criteria for a research area and narrowed the possible boundary options from 31,000+ down to 5 scenarios each with several boundary options. The five scenarios were presented at the January 31st meeting of the Gray’s Reef Sanctuary Advisory Council. A sixth scenario was developed during the January meeting and a socioeconomic assessment was presented. These scenarios and the socioeconomic information, should prepare the public for the next phase of the process called “scoping.” Scoping is a time to gather the public’s ideas and concerns about the concept of a research area. It is anticipated that an official proposal in the form of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) might be released in 2009 with more public comment to follow. Don’t miss your opportunity to take part in this process. In the meantime, feel free to contact Stewardship Coordinator, Becky Shortland at 912-598-2381 or becky.shortland@noaa.gov. Other Related Documents: Boundary Options for a Research Area within Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, by Matthew S. Kendall and Katherine A. Eschelbach, In partnership with Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary and the Research Area Working Group. Research Area Scoping Presentation, by George R. Sedberry. Research or Control Area Concept, by George R. Sedberry, (As presented to CCA GA - 1/19/2008). Federal Register Notice of Intent - March 5, 2008. NOAAís GRNMS Opens Public Comment Period on Research Area Concept