SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary (GRNMS) is located off the Georgia coast, about 19 miles east of Sapelo Island and 40 miles southeast of historic Savannah, Georgia. The sanctuary protects a 22-square-mile area of vibrant, live-bottom reef and surrounding sand and open ocean habitats that are representative of the marine ecosystems off much of the southeastern United States. NOAA designated the area as a national marine sanctuary in 1981 to protect its diversity of species and abundance of marine life. The sanctuary is influenced by complex ocean currents and serves as a mixing zone for temperate (colder water) and sub-tropical species. The series of rock ledges and sand expanses provide a solid base upon which temperate and tropical marine flora and fauna attach and flourish. Almost 1,000 species of invertebrates and 200 species of fish have been identified at Gray's Reef. NOAA manages GRNMS as part of the National Marine Sanctuary System, which comprises 18 national marine sanctuaries, under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (NMSA), 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.

The sanctuary management plan is a road map that guides sanctuary management actions and programs toward achievement of the sanctuary's goals. Subsection 304(e) of the NMSA requires NOAA to periodically review sanctuary management plans to evaluate ( printed page 68948) the substantive progress toward implementing the management plan and goals for the sanctuary, and to revise the management plans and regulations as necessary. This review ensures that national marine sanctuaries continue to best conserve, protect, and enhance their nationally significant resources (16 U.S.C. 1434(e)). The current GRNMS management plan was published in 2014, and is available at graysreef.noaa.gov/​management/​plan/​. In 2019 NOAA conducted a rapid management plan review to evaluate the substantive progress made toward implementing the 2014 management plan, and determined that no urgent or immediate revisions to the management plan were needed at the time.

The comprehensive management plan review process is composed of four major stages: (1) information collection, including through this request for information; (2) preparation and release of a draft management plan, an environmental analysis document as required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and a notice of proposed rulemaking for any proposed changes to sanctuary regulations; (3) public review and comment on the draft documents; and (4) preparation and release of a final management plan, a final environmental analysis document, and a final rule for any changes to sanctuary regulations, if applicable. NOAA will also, as applicable, address other statutory and regulatory requirements pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA), Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and Tribal consultation responsibilities under Executive Order 13175.

II. Condition Report

To inform the management plan review, NOAA published a Condition Report for the GRNMS. The Condition Report, released in 2025, assessed the period from 2008-2022 and presents summary information describing the status and trends of sanctuary resources, covering the broad categories of human activities and pressures, water quality, habitat, living resources, and maritime heritage resources. This report also included the status and trends of ecosystem services—the ways that humans benefit from the natural and cultural resources of the sanctuary. The report is available to the public online at sanctuaries.noaa.gov/​science/​condition/​grnms/​.

III. Preliminary Goals & Strategies From GRNMS Staff Workshop

In August 2026, NOAA held a workshop to identify preliminary draft goals and strategies for effectively managing the sanctuary over the next ten years. Staff considered information from the existing 2014 GRNMS Management Plan, the 2019 rapid management plan review, the 2025 Condition Report, findings and recommendations of the Sanctuary Advisory Council, staff knowledge and expertise, and input from the public and partners since 2014.

NOAA is interested in receiving public comment on these preliminary draft goals and strategies, which will seek to further the agency's work to conserve Gray's Reef while facilitating public and private uses that are compatible with the goals and objectives of the sanctuary. NOAA is also interested in hearing any additional topics raised by the public.

GOAL 1: Improve our understanding of sanctuary resources and ecosystem services, their value to the regional and national economy, and their vulnerability to natural and human-related threats, in coordination/collaboration with partners.

• Strategy 1.1. Assess the state of knowledge of sanctuary resources and habitats, and direct future research and monitoring.
• Strategy 1.2. Enhance our understanding of sanctuary historical and cultural resources to inform management and interpretation activities.
• Strategy 1.3. Identify and track socioeconomic value and ecosystem service benefits provided by the sanctuary and its resources.
• Strategy 1.4. Facilitate scientific research and monitoring through local, regional, and national partners.

GOAL 2: Support and sustain the condition of sanctuary resources and improve and restore ecosystem structure and function when needed and where possible.

• Strategy 2.1. Water quality: Engage with local, regional and federal partners to monitor for emerging threats and maintain the water quality of the sanctuary.
• Strategy 2.2. Habitat: Work with partners to maintain healthy habitat, mitigate negative impacts, and promote recovery of degraded resources.
• Strategy 2.3. Living marine resources: Work with regional and federal partners to maintain the healthy condition and diversity of natural biological communities.

GOAL 3: Reduce threats to and pressures on sanctuary resources.

• Strategy 3.1. Identify and monitor patterns of human uses and their potential impacts.
• Strategy 3.2. Reduce and mitigate adverse impacts of human activities and non-native fauna to key marine species and habitats.
• Strategy 3.3. Facilitate and manage human use, ensuring use is compatible with sanctuary resource protection goals.

GOAL 4: Increase awareness and support for Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary and its resources.

• Strategy 4.1. Enhance public awareness through effective outreach, immersive interpretation, and quality education programs.
• Strategy 4.2. Maintain and enhance community-based and partner engagement to improve collaboration and coordination.
• Strategy 4.3. Optimize the impact of the Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Discovery Center and research vessel to deliver impactful education programs and interpretation and enhance sanctuary outreach and management.

GOAL 5: Advance and support collaborative and coordinated management.

• Strategy 5.1. Enhance operational capabilities of the Sanctuary infrastructure (vessels, buildings, etc.) required to accomplish the mission and goals.
• Strategy 5.2. Maintain and enhance cooperative management with our federal, state, and local partners to advance shared resource management priorities.

GOAL 6. Improve understanding to support conservation of important natural and cultural resources across the South Atlantic Bight along the mid-Continental Shelf and beyond.

• Strategy 6.1. Assess the ecological connections and health in the South Atlantic Bight to inform conservation and management of Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary.
• Strategy 6.2. Expand coordination and scope of the Southeast Regional Ecosystem Assessment Initiative to include mapping and habitat characterization efforts by NOAA and other federal and state agencies.
• Strategy 6.3. Evaluate the need for additional protection of habitats and cultural resources in the South Atlantic Bight. ( printed page 68949)

Authority:16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.

91 FR 68947