NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries selected two deep-water areas off southwest Florida to better understand the ecological connectivity of deep-water biological habitats and communities to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the Tortugas Ecological Reserve, and Pulley Ridge Habitat. Exploring the biological and geological character of these areas will aid the ongoing management plan review of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary — including the Tortugas Ecological Reserve — by documenting the physical and biological connections of unique places at the ecological crossroads of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and Atlantic Ocean. This mission is a rare opportunity to document the conditions in deep-water areas of the Reserve and evaluate the impact of management strategies on the deep-water community.
