September 13, 2018 — A plan to expand the network of federally protected coral reef systems in the Gulf of Mexico may not be ready for approval by the Trump administration until early 2020, officials said Wednesday.
That means about five years will have passed since officials first began discussing in 2015 expanding the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, located about 100 miles off the coast of Galveston.
The sanctuary designation, which prevents over fishing and harassment of marine life in the area, currently stretches across 56 square miles, or three banks. In May, the sanctuary’s advisory council approved a proposal that would expand that area to 206 square miles, or 17 banks.
But officials have identified some potential tweaks. For example, the new plan actually would eliminate some of the protected area around Stetson Bank, one of the three current banks.
“There has not been a final decision how proceed,” sanctuary Superintendent G.P. Schmahl said during a Wednesday advisory council meeting, adding that officials likely would adjust the Stetson Bank boundaries.
According to the Flower Garden Banks website, there are several more steps to go in the process. For example, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which oversees the 13 federally designated national marine sanctuaries, still must ask the Department of Interior to analyse the plan to understand how it will impact energy and mineral resource development.