The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Sean Morton says the public comments are critical to the review process because the advisory council will use them to determine future changes in regulations.

“This is the start of a public process to review all of the zones and boundaries and regulations,” says Morton. “We’re asking the public, “What’s working? What’s not working? What kind of changes they’d like to see.”

The organization is seeking input to help steer updates to the agency’s management plan.

“This is what’s going to shape what issues are going to be taken up by the sanctuary advisory council,” he says. “And it’s gonna really determine the direction that the sanctuary should be taking to best protect and conserve the living marine resources and submerged cultural resources of the Florida Keys.”

The public meetings will be held across South Florida. Morton says attendees will learn about the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary as well as the Great White Heron and Key West National Wildlife Refuges.

The final meeting is scheduled for June 27 in Fort Myers.

For more information and a complete list of meetings dates and locations, visit http://floridakeys.noaa.gov/review/scoping.html .