Expand Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

Dear National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

RE: Docket Number NOAA-NOS-2019-0033

The Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary protects critical habitat for manta rays, sea turtles, and countless marine species. The stress of climate change and offshore drilling is threatening these ecosystems, and it is more important than ever to protect them; doing so will in turn protect us from climate change.

To ensure that the coral ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico are fully protected, we ask that you:

1. Approve the largest possible expansion of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (both the publicly supported alternative and the staff proposed alternative were significantly bigger than the current proposal).

2. Ensure that the current ban on longline and spear fishing is extended to the new areas.

3. Continue to evaluate the ecosystem science and use connectivity and coral density to guide more expansions.

Thank you,