LAW ENFORCEMENT

Law Enforcement Summit held April 3, 2007 Galveston, Texas SUMMIT PRESENTATIONS: Introduction to Law Enforcement in the FGBNMS -G.P. Schmahl, FGBNMS SUMMIT DOCUMENTS: Law Enforcement Summit Agenda (52kb) Law Enforcement Summit Minutes (144kb pdf)

An important step in the management plan review is the process of characterizing priority issues.  "Law Enforcement" was identified as one of six priority issues through the public scoping process and by the sanctuary advisory council and sanctuary staff.  In response, the sanctuary advisory council formed a working group to address this issue.  Through a series of public meetings and/or workshops, the working group will develop their final recommendations on management activities and strategies to be considered by the full council and the sanctuary superintendent. The following summarizes the work done by members of the subcommittee or working group and presents an overview of the issue and suggested action strategies.

Working Group Members:

• Frank Burek, Chairperson, Council Recreational Diving Representative
• Tracy Hamburger, FGBNMS
• John Stout, Council Recreational Fishing Representative

The Issue:

Enforcement is logistically difficult due to the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary’s distance from shore, limited access to the site due to the lack of a sanctuary vessel and limited staff with no enforcement authority.  A second issue is that the sanctuary is lacking consistent enforcement policies and understandable interpretive and easy to locate rules. 

The Strategy:

1. Develop a document to enhance the clarity of regulations.
2. Establish a process for enhancing distribution of enforcement rules.
3. Outline a framework for voluntary enforcement reporting on the FGBNMS web site.
4. Establish an increased patrol schedule of the sanctuary.
5. Evaluate the ability for remote observations of sanctuary usage.
6. Ensure that proper response information for any Hazardous Material in the vicinity of FGBNMS is readily available to the general public, the oil and gas operators in the area and all local responders.
7. Consider installing a mooring buoy on Sonnier Bank provided that this is within staff capabilities without over-stepping enforcement boundaries.

Download a copy of the Enforcement Fact Sheet (452kb pdf).

Questions or comments? Email fgbmanagmentplan@noaa.gov.