Personal watercraft tour operators appear to have found common ground with fishing captains Monday after they met to resolve conflicts over territory, boating etiquette and impact on wildlife.

The meeting came four days after the two groups squared off at a meeting in Key West convened to take input on possible changes to regulations in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges.

At that meeting, personal watercraft tour operators asked refuge managers to open a large area off Key West to the controversial watercraft, which are now prohibited within Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges.

The tour operators met with flats guides and light tackle charter boat captains Monday night to discuss how the two sides might peacefully coexist on nearshore waters.

Sanctuary Advisory Council member and Nature Conservancy research scientist Chris Bergh mediated the meeting, and participants included representatives of Barefoot Billy's, Sunset Watersports and Fury Water Adventures, all of which operate personal watercraft tours.

"We want to work together," said Marius Venter, who operates tours in Key West for Fury. "We all have to share the resource."

Some of the ideas proposed Monday were: keeping personal watercraft tours off the flats and out of waters less than 15 feet deep; having the tour guides stay at least 500 yards from light tackle and flats boats; and placing buoys and markers to warn personal watercraft operators about areas where they aren't allowed, Venter said.

Another proposal would push personal watercraft operators farther south in the Atlantic and away from flats guides and light tackle fishermen angling off Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, a favorite tarpon fishing spot in April, May and June. However, in order to comply with the request, personal watercraft operators would have to travel a quarter-mile of the Key West National Wildlife Refuge that abuts Key West Harbor.

"We are delighted that they reached out to us," said Lower Keys flats guide Will Benson. "I think we can work on solutions that would be best for everybody, not just the personal watercraft operators and the flats guides."

The two groups agreed to meet again in three weeks.

Sanctuary and Fish and Wildlife officials conducted three well-attended meetings in the Keys last week to hear public suggestions for changes to sanctuary and refuge regulations.

Nearly 90 people attended the Key Largo meeting, and 135 people attended the Marathon meeting.

The meetings attracted a broad spectrum of people, including commercial and recreational fishermen, divers and watersports operators. The public comment period closes Friday.

tohara@keysnews.com