What are Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas (CAMA)?
• the National Marine Sanctuary • the National Estuarine Research Reserve • Florida Aquatic Preserve • and Florida Buffer Preserves CAMA manages the upland properties under its jurisdiction under the policy of providing public uses that are compatible with its mandate to protect the environment. Some of the many public activities provided in these areas are: hunting, hiking, camping, fishing, beach access, fishing, nature appreciation, environmental education field trips and research projects conducted by public universities. What is the National Marine Sanctuary (NMS) program? The NMS was created by Congress via the enactment of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA) of 1972. It provides for the protection of the nation s unique marine resources via designation of the sites that contain these resources as sanctuaries. Florida s original sanctuaries were designated at Key Largo in 1976, and Looe Key in 1981. The Key Largo NMS, approximately 100 square nautical mile
