1. National Park Service Mission To preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations [National Park Service Organic Act (16 U.S.C. l 2 3, and 4)]

2. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Mission Managing fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people - Marine Fisheries is responsible for analyzing marine fisheries research and providing the members of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission with advice and recommendations on management strategies for Floridas valuable saltwater fisheries resources.

3. Biscayne National Park Enabling Legislation Biscayne National Park began as Biscayne National Monument, which was established by Congress in 1968 to preserve and protect for the education, inspiration, recreation and enjoyment of present and future generations a rare combination of terrestrial, marine, and amphibious life in a tropical setting of great natural beauty (PL 90-606).

4. Biscayne National Park Enabling Legislation The Monument was later expanded in 1974 to include approximately 8,738 additional acres of land and water (PL 93-477), and to its current size of 173,000 acres (270 square miles) in 1980 (PL 96-287), when the Monument was re-designated as Biscayne National Park (BISC) (NPS 2003a).

5. Biscayne National Park Enabling Legislation In the 1980 enabling legislation, Congress recognized the unique and special values of the resources within BISC, as well as the vulnerability of these resources to destruction or damage due to easy human access by water (PL 96-287). Congress therefore directed the National Park Service to manage this area in a positive and scientific way in order to protect the areas natural resource integrity.

6. Biscayne National Park Enabling Legislation The legislation establishing BISC states that the The waters within the park shall continue to be open to fishing in conformity with the laws of the State of Florida except as the Secretary, after consultation with appropriate officials of said State, designates species for which, areas and times within which, and methods by which fishing is prohibited, limited, or otherwise regulated in the interest of sound conservation to achieve the purposes for which the park is established: Provided, that with respect to lands donated by the State after the effective date of this Act, fishing shall be in conformance with State law. As such, fishery regulations in BISC waters are regulated by the state, and recreational and commercial fisheries have occurred in Park waters since the Parks founding.

7. Fishery Management Plan The FMP is an implementation plan tiered under the General Management Plan (see below) that will guide the management of fishery resources and fishing experience in Biscayne National Park (BISC). BISC and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) are full partners collaborating to develop the FMP. Actions or issues considered under the FMP will be limited to fishing activities or the direct impacts of those activities. Factors that have the potential to affect fisheries but are not directly related to fishing activities (e.g., water quality) will not be addressed under the FMP. The FMP will be implemented predominantly through the FWC (state regulations).

8. General Management Plan The GMP is a guiding document that will direct management of park resources and operations for the next 15 to 20 years. It is the parks overall guiding roadmap. The GMP describes desired resource conditions and visitor experiences throughout the park. The FWC is not a partner in developing the GMP. The GMP will be implemented through federal regulations.

9. Memorandum of Understanding The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is an agency created by Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution and is vested with the states executive and regulatory authority with respect to freshwater aquatic life, wild animal life and marine life. This authority, directly derived from the constitution, provides the Commission with autonomy to regulate and manage wild animal life, freshwater aquatic life and marine life within the State of Florida, which includes the areas encompassed by Biscayne National Park;

10. Memorandum of Understanding Both the FWC and Biscayne National Park wish this Memorandum of Understanding to reflect common goals and intended cooperation and coordination to achieve these goals; and

11. Memorandum of Understanding Both parties agree that when possible and practicable, stocks of fish shall be managed as a biological unit (Section 370.025(3)(d) Florida Statutes). This statement is intended to recognize that measures to end over-fishing and rebuild stocks are most effective when implemented over the range of the biological stock; however, this statement is not intended to preclude implementation of additional or more restrictive management measures within the Park than in adjacent State waters as a means of achieving mutually agreed upon objectives; and

12. Memorandum of Understanding Both parties agree that properly regulated commercial and recreational fishing will be continued within the boundaries of the Park. Both parties recognize and acknowledge that commercial and recreational fishing constitute activities of statewide importance that benefit the health and welfare of the people of the State of Florida. Both parties also recognize and acknowledge that preserving the nationally significant resources of Biscayne National Park to a high conservation and protection standard to be agreed upon by both parties in the fishery management plan.

13. Objective of the FMP Working Group To make recommendations to the National Park Service and FWC on Biscayne National Parks FMP and, where pertinent to fisheries, the GMP, both of which are in the process of development.

14. Charge of the FMP Working Group The Working Group is charged to make recommendations on: Issues to be addressed under the FMP Desired future conditions of fishery resources and fishing experience in BISC Management actions that may be necessary to accomplish desired future conditions Zoning issues in the GMP, particularly in regard to (but not limited to) No-Combustion Engine Zones

15. Output of the Working Group Recommendations generated by the Working Group will be brought before the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council, which will review the recommendations and, upon acceptance, forward the recommendations to the National Park Service, Biscayne National Park and to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.