Do You Fish or Dive the Tortugas?

Here's Some Important Information You Should Know: Rules implementing the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary's Tortugas Ecological Reserve became fully effective July 1, 2001.

The Tortugas Ecological Reserve consists of two sections:

Tortugas North and Tortugas South.

Tortugas North includes 91 square nautical miles of federal and state waters to the west and north of Dry Tortugas National Park.

Tortugas South encompasses 60 square nautical miles southwest of Dry Tortugas National Park that includes Riley's Hump.

The chart of the reserve boundaries:

http://www.fknms.nos.noaa.gov/graphics/maps/tortugas.jpg

The new regulations prohibit:

~Taking, disturbing or injuring any dead or living organism; fishing; and touching living or dead coral

~Discharge or deposit of any material except cooling

water or engine exhaust

~Anchoring

~Mooring by vessels more than 100 feet in length overall

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Tortugas North

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Vessels may enter Tortugas North without an access permit only if they remain in continuous transit with fishing gear stowed (not available for immediate use).

Visitors wishing to stop in Tortugas North or tie up to mooring buoys must obtain a free, no-paperwork permit by calling the Key West or Marathon offices of the Sanctuary.

Diving and snorkeling are permitted.

The Sanctuary has installed twelve mooring buoys in Tortugas North.

Anchoring is prohibited.

Drift diving is permitted, but vessels must obtain an access permit.

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Tortugas South

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Vessels may only enter Tortugas South if they remain in continuous transit with fishing gear stowed (not available for immediate use).

Diving and snorkeling are prohibited.

Not available for immediate use means that gear is not readily accessible, for example, it is stowed unbaited in a cabin, locker, rod holder, or similar storage area, or is securely covered and lashed to a deck or bulkhead.

The regulations also expand Sanctuary boundaries to incorporate all the waters of the reserve, and general Sanctuary-wide regulations apply.

Have questions or need an access permit for Tortugas North? Call the Sanctuary offices:

Key West 305/ 292-0311

Marathon 305/ 743-2437

Reserve Coordinates

Tortugas South

24 33.00'N 83 09.00'W 24 33.00'N 83 05.00'W 24 18.00'N 83 05.00'W 24 18.00'N 83 09.00'W

Tortugas North

24 43.53'N 82 48.00'W 24 45.80'N 82 48.00'W 24 46.00'N 82 54.00'W 24 46.00'N 83 06.00'W 24 43.53'N 82 52.00'W 24 43.00'N 82 54.00'W 24 39.00'N 82 58.00'W 24 39.00'N 83 06.00'W