Frequently Asked Questions

The management plan acts as a road map to:

1. Guide site programming and management actions toward achievement of the sanctuary's goals; and
2. Inform sanctuary constituents, including the general public, about the sanctuary and planned actions by NOAA to manage the sanctuary over the next five to 10 years.

The management plan contains information about the sanctuary's environment and resources, staffing and administration, regulations and boundaries, and priority management issues and actions proposed to address them. The sanctuary's current management plan was published in 2014, and is available online.

Over time, the management plan must be reviewed and updated to adapt to changing conditions and needs within the sanctuary. Since the adoption of the current management plan in 2014, new resource management issues have emerged, as have new partners, technologies, and opportunities. An evaluation of past conservation accomplishments and future needs at Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary will allow site managers and partners to revise priorities as necessary.

Periodic review and update is also a statutory requirement. Prior to review of the management plan, a new condition report is published to identify current status and trends of sanctuary resources and reveal emerging issues of concern that can be evaluated for potential management attention.

The entire process is estimated to take two years, beginning with the initial public scoping period to gather initial input from interested parties. Priority topics for the revised management plan will be identified in early 2027. A draft management plan, a draft National Environmental Policy Act compliance document, and draft regulatory changes will be released by December 2027, and final documents are expected by December 2028.

At the onset of a management plan review, the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries holds public meetings to "scope out" or receive input from sanctuary users, interest groups, government agencies, and other members of the public about resource management issues of concern within and around the marine sanctuary. More information about public scoping is available at the management plan revision page of our website.

Keep up to date on the management plan revision process, ask questions, and receive notifications when there are opportunities for public comment by following the sanctuary's email list or social media channels. Announcements about public scoping meetings and opportunities for public review and comment on draft documents and review of final documents will be made through the email list and social media channels linked above and community news media sources.

You may also attend public meetings of the Sanctuary Advisory Council, at which the management plan revision will be a regularly discussed topic throughout the process. For meeting details, check the advisory council webpage or contact the resource protection coordinator.