Regulations that apply throughout the entire area of the sanctuary, both in highly protected areas and general-use areas, have a focus on habitat protection, reducing threats to water quality, and minimizing human impact to delicate resources.
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 sanctuary-wide:
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Moving, removing, taking, injuring, touching, breaking, cutting or possessing coral or live rock.
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Removing, injuring, or possessing coral or live rock.
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Discharging or depositing treated or untreated sewage from marine sanitation devices, trash, and other materials.
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Dredging, drilling, prop dredging or otherwise altering the seabed, or placing or abandoning any structure on the seabed.
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Operating a vessel in such a manner as to strike or otherwise injure coral, seagrass, or other immobile organisms attached to the seabed, or cause prop scarring.
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Having a vessel anchored on living coral in water less than 40 feet deep when the bottom can be seen. Anchoring on hardbottom is allowed.
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Except in officially marked channels, operating a vessel at more than 4 knots/no wake within 100 yards of residential shorelines, stationary vessels, or navigational aids marking reefs.
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Operating a vessel at more than 4 knots/no wake within 100 yards of a “divers down” flag.
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Diving or snorkeling without a dive flag.
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Operating a vessel in such a manner which endangers life, limb, marine resources, or property.
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Releasing exotic species.
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Damaging or removing markers, mooring buoys, scientific equipment, boundary buoys, and trap buoys.
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Moving, removing, injuring, or possessing historical resources.
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Taking or possessing protected wildlife.
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Using or possessing explosives or electrical charges.
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Harvesting, possessing or landing any marine life species except as allowed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Rule (68B-42 F.A.C.).
Additionally, there are other existing state and federal laws regarding fishing and vessel discharges that apply in the sanctuary. Contact the appropriate agencies or organizations directly for more information on these laws.
State fisheries regulations are available from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Federal fisheries regulations are available from the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, or the National Marine Fisheries Service – Southeast Region.
For more information visit http://floridakeys.noaa.gov/regs/