2008 Regulations for Recreational Harvest and Lobster Information for Monroe County, Florida (392 K pdf)

The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary protects America's only living barrier coral reef and thousands of acres of seagrass. Visitors to the Sanctuary can swim, dive, snorkel, fish or conduct any activity that is not expressly prohibited by Sanctuary regulations.

This summary serves as a guide to Sanctuary visitors. The regulations have been separated into those that apply throughout the Sanctuary, and those that only apply on the Sanctuary zones. The entire text of the Sanctuary regulations is printed in the June 12, 1997 edition of the Federal Register and can be obtained online from the Government Printing Office, as a .pdf file or by calling any Sanctuary office. The regulations have been in effect since July 1, 1997.

1. Summary of Regulations within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
2. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Regulations; Final Rule. See section 922.163 for Sanctuary-wide regulations.
3. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Regulations

These are regulations that apply throughout the entire area of the Sanctuary, including other protected areas and Sanctuary zones. The purpose of these regulations is to protect Sanctuary resources from both direct and indirect threats. These regulations focus on habitat protection, reducing threats to water quality, and minimizing human impact to delicate resources. The following activities are prohibited Sanctuary-wide:

• Removing, injuring, or possessing coral or live rock.
• Discharging or depositing trash or other pollutants.
• Dredging, drilling, prop dredging or otherwise altering the seabed, or placing or abandoning any structure on the seabed.
• Operating a vessel in such a manner as to strike or otherwise injure coral, seagrass, or other organisms. attached to the seabed, or cause prop-scarring.
• Having a vessel anchored on living coral in water less than 40 feet deep when you can see the bottom. Anchoring on hardbottom is allowed.
• Operating a vessel at more than idle speed/no wake within 100 yards of residential shorelines, stationary vessels, and navigational aids marking reefs.
• Operating a vessel at more than idle speed/no wake within 100 feet of a "divers down" flag.
• Diving or snorkeling without a dive flag.
• Operating a vessel in such a manner which endangers life, limb, marine resources, or property
• Releasing exotic species.
• Damaging or removing markers, mooring buoys, scientific equipment, boundary buoys, and trap buoys.
• Moving, removing, injuring, or possessing historical resources.
• Taking or possessing protected wildlife.
• Using or possessing explosives or electrical charges.
• Collecting marine life species -- tropical fish, invertebrates, and plants -- except allowed by
• Florida Marine Life Rule (46-42 F.A.C.). Sanctuary regulations have been established to complement this rule and apply throughout the Sanctuary.

1. Marine zoning in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
2. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Regulations; Final Rule. See section 922.164 for specific regulations by zone.

Marine zoning is a new concept in this country, although zoning has been used for years on land to both protect resources and separate conflicting uses. Marine zoning has been successfully established in other countries.

Zoning provides a common sense approach to focus protection in critical portions of sensitive habitats, while not restricting activities any more than necessary. Zoning protects the majority of shallow reef habitat while minimizing the effect on commercial and recreational fishing. By using marine zoning to protect critical habitat, the coral reefs will be enhanced in many ways. In the remaining 98% of the Sanctuary that is not zoned, the focus of management is on improving water quality and providing habitat protection.

With certain exceptions, the following activities are prohibited in the Ecological Reserves (ER's) and Sanctuary Preservation Areas (SPA's):

• Discharging any matter except cooling water or engine exhaust.
• Fishing by any means; removing, harvesting, or possessing any marine life. Catch and release fishing by trolling will be allowed in Conch Reef, Alligator Reef, Sombrero Reef, and Sand Key SPAs only.
• Touching or standing on living or dead coral.
• Anchoring on living or dead coral, or any attached organism.

Additional regulations for Tortugas South ER:

• Vessels may only enter if they remain in continuous transit with fishing gear stowed. (Diving and snorkeling are prohibited)

Additional regulations for Tortugas North ER:

• Access permit required to stop or use a mooring buoy.
• Anchoring is prohibited
• Mooring vessel(s) more than 100 feet in total or combined length overall is prohibited
• No access permit necessary if vessel remains in continuous transit with fishing gear stowed

Wildlife Management Areas (WMA's):

• Public access restrictions in these areas include idle speed only/no wake, no access buffer, no motor, and limited closures, and are marked as such

Existing Management Areas (EMA's):

• Check with the appropriate State or Federal agency for applicable rules and regulations that apply in these areas

Special Use Areas:

• There are four Special Use Areas designated within the Sanctuary as research only areas. These areas are be closed to all activities. They are located in the vicinity of: Conch Reef, Tennessee Reef, Looe Key (Hawk Channel patch reef), and Eastern Sambo Reef.

Activities prohibited in the Key Largo and Looe Key Existing Management Areas:

• Removing, taking, spearing, or otherwise damaging any coral, marine invertebrate, plant, soil, rock, or other material. However, commercial taking of spiny lobster and stone crab by trap and recreational taking of spiny lobster by hand or hand gear consistent with applicable State and Federal fishery regulations are allowed
• Spearfishing
• Possession of spearfishing equipment, except while passing through without interruption

Ecological Reserves (ER's): Western Sambo and Tortugas. In addition to Sanctuary-wide regulations, special regulations have been set in place in these areas in order to protect resources.

Sanctuary Preservation Areas (SPA). There are 18 small SPAs that protect popular shallow coral reefs. In addition to Sanctuary-wide regulations, special regulations have been set in place in these areas in order to protect resources. Activities that will be prohibited in the Sanctuary Preservation Areas include spearfishing, shell collecting, tropical fish collecting, fishing and other activities that result in the harvest of marine life by divers, snorkelers, and fishermen. In addition, direct physical impact to corals in these areas is restricted.

Wildlife Management Areas (WMA). There are 27 WMA's. The majority of these areas (20) fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Sanctuary regulations have been established to complement the existing USFWS management plan. Public access restrictions in these areas include idle speed only/no wake, no access buffer, no motor, and limited closures.

Existing Management Areas (EMA). Sanctuary regulations have been established to complement those in existing management areas, including Looe Key and Key Largo Management Areas as well as the Great White Heron and Key West National Wildlife Refuges, and all the State Parks and Aquatic Preserves.

Special Use Areas. There are four areas designated: Conch Reef, Tennessee Reef, Looe Key (patch reef), and Eastern Sambo Reef. These are all designated as research-only areas. No person may enter these areas except as specifically authorized by a valid permit.

The Ecological Reserve, SPAs, and Research-only areas are be clearly marked by round yellow marker buoys.

Please note that there are other existing State and Federal laws regarding fishing that will continue to apply throughout the Sanctuary. In addition, fisheries regulations should be obtained from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Please refer to 15 CFR 922 Subpart P for Sanctuary regulations or call (305) 743-2437 for a copy.