Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Regulations: Zone-specific

Zone-specific Regulations

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary established the nation’s first comprehensive network of marine zones in 1997 after years of planning, design, and public input. The marine zoning plan for the Sanctuary includes five types of zones with varying levels of protection: Ecological Reserves, Sanctuary Preservation Areas, Wildlife Management Areas, Existing Management Areas, and Special-use Areas.

Marine zoning is designed to protect and preserve sensitive parts of the ecosystem while allowing activities that are compatible with resource protection.

Note that the text below is intended as summary only; for the full text of sanctuary regulations, see 15 CFR 922 Subpart P.

With certain exceptions, the following activities are prohibited in the Ecological Reserves (ERs) and Sanctuary Preservation Areas (SPAs):

• 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 is 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.
• Anchoring when a mooring buoy is available.
• Bait fishing is allowed in SPAs by Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary permit.

Additional regulation for the Tortugas South Ecological Reserve:

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

Additional regulations for the Tortugas North Ecological Reserve:

• Access permit required to stop or use a mooring buoy.
• Anchoring is prohibited.
• Mooring by 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.

The following activities are prohibited in Special-use Research Only Areas:

• Entry or activity without a Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary permit.
• Discharging any matter except cooling water or engine exhaust.
• Fishing by any means; removing, harvesting, or possessing any marine life.
• Touching or standing on living or dead coral.
• Anchoring on living or dead coral, or any attached organism.

The following regulations apply in Wildlife Management Areas:

• 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.

The following regulations apply in Existing Management Areas:

• Check with the appropriate federal agency for applicable rules and regulations that apply in these areas.

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.

Activities prohibited in the Great White Heron and Key West National Wildlife Refuge Management Areas:

• Operating a personal watercraft, operating an airboat, or water skiing.

Twenty Wildlife Management Areas are co-managed with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, marine portions of these Wildlife Management Areas may be designated “idle speed only/no-wake,” “no-motor” or “no-access buffer” zones or “closed”.

• “idle speed only/no wake” zone:  prohibited from operating a vessel at a speed greater that idle speed only/no wake.
• “no-motor” zone:  prohibited from using internal combustion motors or engines for any purposes. A vessel with an internal combustion motor or engine may access a “no-motor” zone only through the use of a push pole, paddle, sail, electric motor or similar means of propulsion.
• “no-access buffer” zone:  prohibited from entering the area by vessel.
• “closed” zone:  prohibited from entering or using the area.

Sanctuary Preservation Areas, Special-use Areas, and the Western Sambo Ecological Reserve are marked by 30" round yellow buoys. Tortugas Ecological Reserve is not marked. Wildlife Management Areas are marked by white and orange information/regulatory cylindrical spar buoys and signs.

For more information visit http://floridakeys.noaa.gov/regs/