Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Regulations

Spearfishing Equipment

Possession of spearfishing equipment within these Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Existing Management Areas is prohibited except while transiting through, without stopping, and with the spearfishing equipment stowed away:

  • Key Largo - adjacent to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and extending to the 300-foot depth
  • Looe Key - the five-square nautical mile area surrounding Looe Key Reef

No-Take Areas

The following Sanctuary Preservation, no-take areas are marked by 30-inch-diameter round yellow buoys:

  • Alligator Reef
  • Carysfort Reef
  • Cheeca Rocks
  • Coffins Patch
  • Conch Reef
  • Davis Reef
  • Eastern Dry Rocks
  • Elbow
  • French Reef
  • Grecian Rocks
  • Hen and Chickens
  • Key Largo Dry Rocks
  • Looe Key
  • Molasses Reef
  • Newfound Harbor
  • Rock Key
  • Sand Key
  • Sombrero Key

Special-Use Research Only Areas

  • Conch Reef
  • Eastern Sambo
  • Looe Key Patch Reef
  • Tennessee Reef

Ecological Reserves

  • Tortugas
  • Western Sambo