Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Expansion

NOAA is adding 14 additional reefs and banks to the sanctuary that provide essential habitat for recreationally and commercially important fish, as well as habitats for threatened or endangered species including sea turtles, corals and manta rays. The sanctuary will expand from 56 square miles to 160 square miles.

Media Inquiries:

G.P. Schmahl, FGBNMS Superintendent
409-356-0383

Kelly Drinnen, Sanctuary Outreach Specialist
409-356-0388

fgbexpansion@noaa.gov

map showing the flower garden banks national marine sanctuary boundary areas

This map shows the boundaries of the expanded sanctuary, which includes 17 named banks within 19 separate polygons. A description of the rule can be found at flowergarden.noaa.gov/
management/sanctuaryexpansion.html
.

Credit: NOAA

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An assortment of black corals, gorgonians, soft corals, and branching corals

An assortment of black corals, gorgonians, soft corals, and branching corals are common at Horseshoe Bank and other deep reefs throughout the northwestern Gulf of Mexico.

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orange gorgonian

This bright orange gorgonian can grow quite large, and has been documented throughout the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Here it provides habitat for a few brittle stars at Geyer Bank.

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fish swimming around colorful sponges and bright green algae

McGrail Bank features areas of unique coral reefs dominated by large colonies of blushing star coral.

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large sea anemone

This large sea anemone, seen at Rezak Bank, is rarely found at scuba depths in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, but is not uncommon on deeper reefs of the region.

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Colorful sponges and bright green algae adorn the cap of Bright Bank, which is shallow enough to scuba dive.

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 large bushy black corals

These large, bushy black corals provide great hiding places for tropical fish at Geyer Bank and other deep reef habitats throughout the northwestern Gulf of Mexico.

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Gray snapper swim past a pinnacle covered in fire coral

Gray snapper swim past a pinnacle covered in fire coral at Sonnier Bank, a popular area for fishing and shallow enough for scuba diving

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a scamp group swimming above a reef

The highly productive marine ecosystems in the proposed expansion areas support a variety of fish and invertebrate communities of biological and economic importance, like this scamp grouper at Sidner Bank.

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large white black coral sits among a field of smaller black corals

Black corals are named for their internal skeleton color, not their external color. This large white black coral sits among a field of smaller black corals of various colors at Horseshoe Bank.

Credit: NOAA

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cherubfish swimming around a reef

Shallow reef species, like this beautiful cherubfish at Parker Bank, also make use of deep reef habitats throughout the proposed expansion areas.

Credit: NOAA

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