The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary protects 2,900 nautical miles of unique marine resources, including thousands of marine species, over 285 species of resident and migratory birds (including the Roseate Spoonbill), seagrass beds, mangrove-fringed islands, and the only barrier coral reef in the continental United States. The Sanctuary is threatened by loss of critical habitat due to overuse by humans as well as impacts from climate change and sea-level rise.

Sanctuary managers are engaged in the first comprehensive overhaul of the zoning and regulations that govern the Sanctuary in order to address these and other threats. The new “Restoration Blueprint” is based on nearly 30 years of cutting-edge science, and Audubon is working with Sanctuary staff to develop a plan that reduces stressors and increases the resilience of the ecosystem, including the creation of new and enhanced Wildlife Management Areas that will better protect bird species that reside in or migrate through the Sanctuary.