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Last Updated: 11/19/03
What you do (or don't do) CAN make a difference
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- When piloting your boat, you can tell the depth of water by its color. Blue, for example, indicates deep water. Remember the following rhyme as a quick guide to water depth:
Brown, brown, run aground, White, white, you might,
Green, green, nice and clean, Blue, blue, sail on through.
- Before booking a reef trip, check out weather conditions; its best not to go out in rough seas. Poor visibility, strong winds and waves reduce safe interaction at the reef.
- Remember that even the lightest touch with hands or equipment can damage sensitive coral polyps.
- Snorkelers should wear float coats — inflatable snorkel vests — to allow gear adjustment without standing on the coral. Never stand upon a coral reef!
- To avoid contact with the ocean bottom, divers should only use the weight needed and practice proper buoyancy control. Areas that appear empty may support new growth if left undisturbed.
- Avoid wearing gloves and touching or collecting marine life. Most tropical fish captured die within a year. Queen conch is a protected species, and cannot be taken.
- Resist the temptation to feed fish, seabirds and marine mammals; it changes their natural behavior and diet.
- Remember, its illegal to harvest coral in Florida and buying it at local shops only depletes reefs elsewhere in the world.
- Bring back any trash you find and recycle it, if possible.
- Snorkel aware, dive with care!
- Before heading out, check weather conditions. Strong winds and rough seas can result in poor visibility and reduce safe interaction at the reef.
- Dumping trash at sea is illegal; plastic bags and other debris can injure or kill marine animals. Bring your trash back to shore and recycle it. Try to retrieve fishing gear and equipment, especially monofilament line.
- Use sewage pumpout facilities and biodegradable bilge cleaner and never discharge bilgewater at the reef.
- Use reef mooring buoys or anchor in sandy areas away from coral and seagrasses so that anchor, chain, and line do not contact or damage coral or seagrasses.
- Accidental boat groundings damage coral and seagrasses. Consult tide and navigational charts and steer clear of shallow areas. Fines are imposed for such damage.
- Avoid areas which appear brown in color. Shallow reef areas and seagrass beds will appear brown.
- If you run aground: immediately turn the engine off, and tilt it up if possible. Do not try to motor off. Wait until high tide to remove the vessel. Call for assistance when necessary.
- When in a dive area, slow down to an idle speed.
- Fishermen, do not troll over or near divers. Stay at least 100 feet from a red and white diver down flag and watch for bubbles.
- Florida law requires a fishing license. Applicable size, bag limits, and seasons must be observed when harvesting seafood. Release all the fish you cannot eat. Consult state and federal authorities for current regulations.
- Please donut throw fish carcasses or wrung lobsters overboard or into canals as they degenerate and degrade water quality.
- Practice good seamanship and safe boating. Maintain safe distances from fishermen.
- Avoid wildlife disturbance; stay 100 yards or more offshore; keep speed, noise and wakes to a minimum near mangroves.
- Camping, campfires and collecting of any kind are prohibited on all National Wildlife Refuges. Personal watercraft and airboats are illegal in all National Parks and Wildlife Refuges in the Florida Keys.
- Other rules and regulations apply in various areas of the Florida Keys. Check with the appropriate governing agencies.
Enjoy yourself and be cautious while boating in the Sanctuary.
For more information, contact:
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
P.O. Box 500368
Marathon, FL 33050
Administration: 305-743-2437
Upper Region: 305-852-7717
Lower Region: 305-292-0311
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission: 305-289-2320