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
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
B-Roll Video
Credit: NOAA
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.
Credit: NOAA
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.
Credit: NOAA
McGrail Bank features areas of unique coral reefs dominated by large colonies of blushing star coral.
Credit: NOAA
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.
Credit: NOAA
Colorful sponges and bright green algae adorn the cap of Bright Bank, which is shallow enough to scuba dive.
Credit: NOAA
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.
Credit: NOAA
Gray snapper swim past a pinnacle covered in fire coral at Sonnier Bank, a popular area for fishing and shallow enough for scuba diving
Credit: NOAA
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.
Credit: NOAA
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
Shallow reef species, like this beautiful cherubfish at Parker Bank, also make use of deep reef habitats throughout the proposed expansion areas.
Credit: NOAA
