NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries today announced a final rule that it is expanding the boundaries of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary by 104 square miles and revising the sanctuary’s terms of designation.
Under the final rule, which will be effective following a review period of 45 days of continuous session of Congress (as measured from January 19, 2021), existing regulations will be applied to 14 additional reefs and banks in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico.
