THE FLORIDA KEYS INTERNET GUIDE

FLORIDA KEYS NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY

The marine environment of the Florida Keys supports over 6,000 species of plants, fishes and invertebrates, including the Nation's only coral reef that lies adjacent to the continent. The Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary established in 1975 and the Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary established in 1981 were two efforts at providing protection to this unique and fragile environment. Notwithstanding these efforts, threats of oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, reports of environmental degradation and three ship groundings within an 18 day period in 1989 led to the enactment of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act. The Act designated 2,800 square nautical miles of coastal waters off the Florida Keys as a National Marine Sanctuary. The sanctuary extends southward on the Atlantic Ocean side of the Keys from the northeasternmost point of the Biscayne National Park for over 200 nautical miles to the Dry Tortugas. From there it turns north and east, encompassing a large portion of the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Bay, where it adjoins Everglades National park. The Dry Tortugas are excluded from the sanctuary boundaries, and the landward boundary of the Sanctuary is the mean high-water mark.

The following regulations and guidelines are "Reef Etiquette" and "Safe Boating Tips" published by the National Marine Sanctuary Program. We strongly encourage all visitors to contact a sanctuary office*and the Florida Marine Patrol** to obtain complete information about laws and regulations applicable to the waters you will be navigating, diving or fishing while in the Keys.

DON'T KICK UP SAND	NEVER BREAK CORAL	NEVER STAND ON CORAL	DON'T TOUCH CORAL

• When anchoring, the anchor, anchor chain or line should not be in contact with coral. Use mooring buoys that are provided. If one is not available, ask to tie off another stern. If neither option is available, carefully anchor in the sand.

• The red and white divers down flag must be flown while SCUBA diving or snorkeling. Boats should slow to a no-wake speed within 100 yards of a dive flag. Divers should stay within 100 feet of their flag.

• Always consult and carry the local NOAA nautical chart to determine safe courses of navigation. Use channels, don't take shortcuts.

• Avoid areas which appear brown in color. Shallow reef areas and seagrass beds will appear brown (remember, brown, brown run aground).

• If you run aground: immediately turn the engine off. Do not try to motor off. Wait until high tide to remove the vessel. Call for assistance when necessary.

• Fines are imposed for damaging seagrasses and coral by running aground.

• Motor slowly parallel to the reef, in deep water, until a mooring buoy is selected. Turn and idle directly to the buoy without meandering among other boats. Reverse this procedure when motoring to another site.

• When in a dive area, slow down to an idle speed. Make sure your bow is down and the motor or stem is not digging down deep into the water.

• Boaters, use extra caution near charter vessels. The concentration of divers off these vessels poses a greater potential for accidents.

• Fisherman, do not troll over or near divers. Stay at least 100 yards from a red and white diver's down flag and watch for bubbles.

• Regulations prohibit littering. Do not discard your chum box, fishing line or trash into the water.

• Hand feeding fish is discouraged . Such activity changes the natural behavior and diet of the fish.

• Other rules and regulations apply in various areas of the Florida Keys, for more information contact:

The information herein was provided by the Key Largo office of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, (305) 852-7717, P.O. Box 1083, Key Largo, Florida 33037. We greatly appreciate their co-operation and thank them for the wonderful job they are doing.

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