Although several areas, including the Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary off Georgia, were dropped last month from a list of proposed Marine Protected Areas in the south Atlantic, federal fisheries managers left more than two dozen sites up for discussion.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, which met during June in St. Augustine, Fla., is considering the use of MPAs as a management tool to protect snapper and grouper species from North Carolina to Florida, especially deepwater fish such as speckled hind, snowy grouper and tilefish. When an area is designated as an MPA, it may become off-limits to certain kinds of fishing, seasonally closed or closed to specific gear.

"It is very important that the public understand the council process," said Tony Iarocci, chairman of the MPA Committee, which reports to the council. "There are specific steps the council must take in forming any plan, and public outreach and understanding is key."

Advisory panels, scientific panels and the public will review and evaluate areas before the council approves any plan, managers said. A proposed plan would be reviewed by the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Secretary of Commerce. Two rounds of public hearings will be scheduled in 2002.

Here is a partial list of the council's June modifications to the proposed MPA list:

Florida


In Florida, the proposed MPA list was modified to exclude any sites located in state waters, along with Carysfort Reef off Key Largo and Fowey Rocks in Key Biscayne National Park. The Islamorada Hump will remain on the list but will only be considered for spawning closures.

The recommendation to extend the currently protected Oculina Bank habitat, which begins off the central east coast of Florida, was removed as were two suggested reef areas off Jacksonville: Blackmar and Tanzar reefs.

Georgia


The council removed the suggested area within the Gray's Reef sanctuary and referred it back to the sanctuary for evaluation in its management plan process.

North Carolina


Just two of six suggested sites off North Carolina remain on the proposed list: a deep-water site (site C) and a site for possible use of artificial reef material off Beaufort Inlet.

Six of the council's advisory panels including the MPA, snapper grouper, wreckfish, habitat, coral and law enforcement panels will meet Aug. 28-30 in Charleston to further review the MPA site list.

For more information or to obtain a site list, contact the council office at (843) 571-4366; email [email protected], or visit the web site: www.safmc.net.