The Oculina Banks extend from Fort Pierce to Cape Canaveral off the eastern coast of Florida. The most predominate coral species present is Oculina varicosa, the ivory tree coral. The reefs span over 90 nautical miles, at depths ranging from 70-100 meters, and represents the only colony of deep water O. varicosa on earth (Reed, 2002). The colonies provide valuable habitat for a variety of fish species, including the economically important snapper/grouper fishery. However, as fishing pressures have increased impacts to the habitat, landings have rapidly declined over the last twenty years (Koenig et al., 2000).

In response to these trends, the South Atlantic Marine Fisheries Council has implemented a series of regulations, which began with the establishment of a Habitat Area of Particular Concern in 1984. In 1994 this area was designated as the Experimental Oculina Research Reserve (EORR), and all commercial fishing practices where banned for a period of ten years. The ban includes all trawling and bottom fishing activities. In 1998, the boundaries of the EORR were extended to include an additional 60 square miles of benthic habitat. The extension of the reserve came as a result of the amendments to the Magnuson-Stevenson Fisheries Management Act in 1996, which stated that Essential Fish Habitats (EFH’s) must be identified in impacted areas to enhance overall conservation.