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Biscayne National Park announces the release of its Final General Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement. I want to express my sincere appreciation for your interest and support in the development of this plan. It is the culmination of a great deal of time, energy, and input from members of the public, other agencies and the National Park Service. This final general management plan provides comprehensive guidance for perpetuating natural systems, preserving cultural resources and providing opportunities for high-quality visitor experiences. Its purpose is to decide how the National Park Service can best fulfill Biscayne National Park’s mission, maintain its significance, and protect its resources unimpaired for the enjoyment of present and future generations.
During the past fourteen years the National Park Service held over 22 public workshops and received more than 43,000 public comments. These comments conveyed the desire for action to be taken to restore the coral reef ecosystem and improve the visitor experience of the park. The final plan proposes Alternative 8, a hybrid of previous plan alternatives. It adopts the no fishing marine reserve zone in Alternative 4 and the other management zones described in Alternative 6. The marine reserve zone will be the primary tool in a suite of techniques used to improve the park’s coral reef ecosystem and provide visitors with the opportunity to experience a natural, healthy reef with larger and more numerous fish. It is also anticipated to create the potential for a spillover effect, improving fishing experiences in surrounding areas.
Continued public involvement is critical to the success of park management actions. The park worked and continues to work cooperatively with partner agencies, especially the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Service, and local agencies.
The General Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement can be downloaded from www.parkplanning.nps.gov/bisc_gmp. For your convenience, CD copies and a limited number of printed copies are available at the park’s Visitor Center at 9700 S.W. 328th Street, Homestead, FL 33033. For additional information, email us at [email protected] or call us at 305-230-1144.
Your input was instrumental in the planning process. The National Park Service values the public’s interest in Biscayne National Park, and we look forward to implementing the plan with your support and collaboration.
Brian Carlstrom
Superintendent of Biscayne National Park |