The Florida governor and Cabinet have approved 77.2 square nautical miles of the Tortugas Ecological Reserve, following a nod by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission prohibiting fishing in the reserve's state waters.

The state's action expands the boundaries of the reserve, which is one of 23 no-take zones (including one other reserve) in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

In March, 73.8 square nautical miles of the reserve went into effect in federal waters, which begin at nine miles from shore. An upcoming decision by Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton is expected to establish the final 46 square nautical miles of the reserve in Dry Tortugas National Park, according to the Tortugas Coalition.

The federal portion of the Tortugas Ecological Reserve includes all of Tortugas South (60 square nautical miles that includes the critical spawning grounds of Riley's Hump) and 13.8 square nautical miles in the northwest corner of Tortugas North.

"We plan to work closely with commercial fishermen to make sure they're aware of the reserve boundaries and regulations and allow them time to remove their gear from the closed areas," sanctuary Superintendent Billy Causey said in March. "With the ... routine closure of Riley's Hump to protect spawning mutton snapper approaching in May and June, the timing of the new rules should help ease the transition."

In Tortugas North, the new regulations prohibit all taking of marine life in the federal waters of Tortugas North, restrict vessel discharges to cooling water and engine exhaust, prohibit anchoring and prohibit use of mooring buoys by vessels more than 100 feet in combined length. The regulations would allow diving and snorkeling, but require visitors to obtain a simple no-cost, phone-in permit to ensure that all vessels have access to mooring buoys, to ease enforcement and to assist in monitoring visitor impacts.

Florida's approval adds those restrictions to water within state boundaries. The fishing prohibition will be effective July 1.

Regulations for Tortugas South also prohibit the taking of marine life and restrict vessel discharges. In addition, to ease enforcement in this remote region, the regulations prohibit diving in Tortugas South, requiring vessels to be in continuous transit through the area with fishing gear stowed.

The Sanctuary based the Tortugas Ecological Reserve plan on a proposal drafted by the Tortugas 2000 working group and adopted by the Sanctuary Advisory Council. The 25-member working group included commercial and recreational fishermen, divers, scientists, conservationists, citizens-at-large and resource managers. The process to develop the reserve has drawn accolades as a model for collaborative reserve design.

The Tortugas Ecological Reserve will join the sanctuary's network of no-take areas established in 1997. The final plan is available on-line at http://www.fknms.nos.noaa.gov/tortugas/ or by calling (305) 743-2437.