Revisions to Anchoring Prohibitions in the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is amending the regulations governing the anchoring and mooring of vessels in the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS or Sanctuary). NOAA is making this change to conform the regulations to anchoring prohibitions adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), at its December 6, 2000 meeting. NOAA will prohibit all anchoring and mooring in the Sanctuary with the exception that vessels 100 feet (30.48 meters) and under in length are permitted to moor at existing Sanctuary mooring buoys. The intent of this rule is to prevent further injuries to corals in the Sanctuary from anchoring.