Fire Island nominated for added federal protection

Fire Island National Seashore has been nominated for inclusion in a federal system that is designed to protect marine resources.

The National Park Service, which owns the site, has nominated it to become part of the National System of Marine Protected Areas, a program run by the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Department of the Interior.

The system is a way to foster greater collaboration among participating sites and agencies, while enhancing public recognition and government stewardship of the marine environment.

"Inclusion in the national system does not change how we currently manage the park," Chris Soller, superintendent of Fire Island National Seashore said. "Nor will it interfere with our current general management planning" leading to a master plan for the park in the next few years.

The program was created by a presidential order in 2000. The first 225 sites were accepted into the system in 2008. The second round of nominations was held last year with 32 sites, including Fire Island, recommended. NOAA is accepting comments on the nomination through Feb. 22.

Michael Bilecki, the seashore's chief of resources management, said, "National park areas that have marine environments within their boundaries are pretty much a marine protected area already." So the designation means "everyone who is working on marine protected areas will have more of an opportunity to start working together to see what they are doing and what we might want to do."

Comments made by public will be incorporated into the development of the park's general management plan, he said.

Fire Island Association president Gerard Stoddard said he had no problem with the designation because "it doesn't seem to be calling for any immediate changes or regulations." He added that a major concern on Fire Island is that the federal government might bar or restrict periodic dredging and beach replenishment, but "this seems fairly innocuous."

Sarah Newkirk, coastal program director for the Nature Conservancy on Long Island, said "anything that recognizes the high-value natural resources at FINS and the recreational values that it offers to the public on a national scale is a good thing."

More information and comment information can be found at mpa.gov.