Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Designated in 1990, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is one of 13 national marine sanctuaries and two national marine monuments that make up the National Marine Sanctuary System.

Jointly managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and  the state of Florida, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary protects 2,900 square nautical miles of waters surrounding the Florida Keys, from Biscayne Bay westward to encompass the Dry Tortugas, excluding Dry Tortugas National Park and northward to the southern border of Everglades National Park. The shoreward boundary of the sanctuary is the mean high-water mark, essentially meaning that once you set foot in Florida Keys waters, you have entered the sanctuary.

Within the boundaries of the sanctuary lie spectacular, unique and nationally significant marine resources, including Florida’s Coral Reef, extensive seagrass beds, beautiful sandbars, mangrove-fringed islands and more than 6,000 species of marine life. The sanctuary also protects pieces of our nation’s history such as shipwrecks and other archaeological treasures.

Visitors to the sanctuary are encouraged to take advantage of the many recreational activities this amazing ecosystem has to offer, including world-class diving, swimming, snorkeling and fishing. However, rules and regulations are in place to make sure that these activities happen in ways – and at places – that reduce user conflict and are not harmful to the sanctuary’s natural and cultural resources.

For more information, please visit Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. 

Learn more about Coupon Bight Aquatic Preserve, Lignumvitae Key Aquatic Preserve or any of the 11 state parks located along the Florida Keys.