U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

This blue goose, designed by J. N. "Ding" Darling, has become a symbol Key West and Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuges of the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Key West National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1908 as a Sanctuary Preservation Areas have been designated at Sand Key, Boating in the backcountry is challenging due to very shallow preserve and breeding ground for native birds and other wildlife. Rock Key and Eastern Dry Rocks (all located within Key West water depths. If you should run aground, please do not try to The refuge encompasses more than 200,000 acres with only 2,000 NWR) to protect coral reef habitats. power-off the area since this results in extreme damage to the acres of land. The area is home to more than 250 species of birds environment. Instead, trim up the motor and try to walk the and is important for sea turtle nesting. For the most current National Marine Sanctuary regulations boat to deeper water. You might have to wait for a high-tide to please contact the Sanctuary office at 305/809 4700. accomplish this. All of the islands in the refuge are designated as a part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Designated wilderness Refuge Information/Visitor Center...... 305/872 0774 areas are managed to minimize human impacts and influences and Sanctuary Regulations in Refuges to let natural processes occur without intervention. The refuge Refuge Headquarters...... 305/872 2239 limits human use and influence in order to preserve the quality, n No fishing allowed in Sanctuary Preservation Areas. character and integrity of these protected wilderness lands. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary...... 305/809 4700 n Do not touch coral or anchor on coral. Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge was established Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission....305/289 2320 in 1938 as a haven for great white herons, migratory birds, and n Do not discharge waste water other wildlife. The refuge consists of almost 200,000 acres of open U.S. Coast Guard Key West...... 305/292 8856 water and islands, and is known locally as the “backcountry.” The refuge provides critical nesting, feeding, and resting areas for n Use dive flag when snorkeling or diving. Monroe County Sheriff...... 305/289 2430 hundreds of species of birds and sea turtles. n Use mooring buoys when available. Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline...... 888/404 3922 The refuge was created to protect great white herons from extinction since the population was Injured or dead sea turtles...... 305/743 2552 decimated by the demand for feathered For questions about allowable hats. Protection of great white herons activities within the refuges please Injured or sick birds was successful, and these magnificent call 305/872 0774. powder-white birds can be observed feeding on tidal-flats around hundreds Key West...... 305/292 1008 of backcountry islands each dawn and dusk. Allowed Activities Big Pine Key...... 305/872 1982 Marathon...... 305/743 8382 Mangrove islands are important bird n Sport and commercial nesting and roosting areas, and provide fishing in accordance Tavernier...... 305/852 4486 virtually no public use opportunities with state and federal because upland areas do not exist. Islands with beaches are open to regulations. Monroe County Animal Control limited public access as marked with signs. Please obey refuge signs to help n Recreational boating Key West SPCA...... 305/294 4857 minimize disturbance to wildlife. with conventional Brown pelican/USFWS propeller- driven crafts, Marathon SPCA...... 305/743 4800 The Florida Keys National Marine kayaks, canoes and Prohibited Activities Sanctuary was designated in 1990 sailboats. and protects 2,800 square nautical National Key Deer Refuge miles from Key Largo to the Dry n Use of personal watercrafts, hovercrafts and airboats. 28950 Watson Boulevard n Tortugas. This includes the waters SCUBA diving and Big Pine Key, FL 33043 of the Key West and Great White snorkeling. n Landing airplanes, helicopters or ultra-lights. Headquarters: 305/872 2239 Heron National Wildlife Refuges. Fax: 305/872 3675 Visitors to the refuges should be aware n Wildlife viewing and n Water skiing. Visitor Center: 305/872 0774 that the sanctuary has established photography. E-mail: [email protected] additional rules to protect the marine n Camping, open fires and pets on islands. environment. n Refuge hours on islands Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary are 1/2 hour before n Search for or removal of antiquities. Key West Office The sanctuary protects the marine sunrise to 1/2 hour after portions of the refuges through a Nancy Foster Florida Keys Environmental Complex management partnership between sunset. n Camping on refuge managed islands. 33 East Quay Road the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Key West, FL 33040 and the National Oceanographic and n No open fires. 305/809 4700 Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Great white heron/USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Key West National Wildlife Refuge

PERSONAL WATERCRAFT CLOSURE ZONE N O Great White Heron NO ENTRY R NO ZONE U L F O X I C O T NOT FOR NAVIGATION PURPOSES (1 ISLAND) G F M E H ENTRY National Wildlife Refuge NO MOTOR ZONE W ZONE E NO MOTOR ZONE (3 ISLANDS) COTTRELL S B KEY T O LITTLE MULLET C H UPPER C KEY IDLE SPEEDZONES GULF OF MEXICO

A BIG MULLET KEY A HARBOR CHANNEL MARQUESAS N CONTENT KEY

KEYS G ARCHER KEY N

R NO ACCESS ZONE

MULE KEY E A BARRACOUTA

L BIG MOONEY GULL KEYS BOCA GRANDE KEY KEYS JOE INGRAM KEY HARBOR EAST HBR. KEY N PASSAGE SPANISH D WOMAN KEY CRAWFISH KEY KEY LITTLE SPANISH BAHIA E KEY MANGROVE HONDA IDLE MAN KEY

C BALLAST CONTENT KEY SPEED H

KEY LITTLE WEST

ZONE A KEYS WATER N NO ENTRY BAHIA

PARTIAL BEACH OPENING CUTOE SPANISH

N CUDJOE CHANNEL ZONE LITTLE KEYS HONDA

E E S T N E L KEY KEY L NO VESSEL ZONE W C H A N CRANE HORSESHOE KEY NO KEY LITTLE JOHNSON KEYS ENTRY CRAWL PINE KEYS HARDUP ROCK EASTERN SAWYER ANNETTE KEY DRY RKS. ZONE KEY KEY KEY KEY KEY MANGROVE SAND RIDING RACCOON N OT FOR N AVIGATION PURPOSES KEY KEY CRANE KEY KEY JOHNSTON KEY CHANNEL COCOANUT TARPON HOWE KEY JOHNSTON BELLY KEY BIG WATER KEY KEYS MAYO KEY TEAKETTLE PERSONAL WATERCRAFT CLOSURE ZONE BARRACUDA MANGROVES HURRICANE KEY SPANISH FRIEND KEY KEY KEYS LITTLE KEY GULF OF MEXICO Key Deer PINE MARVIN BUDD KEYS Blvd. PORPOISE CHANNE KEY KEYS LITTLE KNOCKEMDOWN KEY IDLE SPEED JOHNSTON PUMPKIN SWASH KEY PIGEON KEY KEY KEYS BIG MIDDLE ZONE SNIPE POINT NO KEY TORCH TORCH L M KEY BAHIA HONDA UD ENTRY GALDIN HAPPY KEY KEY KEY JACK KEY NO NAME KEY ZONE BIG PINE KEY KEY IDLE SPEED CHANNE MALLORY KEY ZONE RAMROD NO SQUIRREL KEY L KEY 1 NO ENTRY ZONE MUD MOTOR SUGARLOAF KEYS ZONE KEY WEST CUDJOE HARBOR WALTZ KEY BASIN SNIPE KEYS KEY Refuge KEY JEWFISH BASIN IDLE SPEED ZONE SUMMERLAND LITTLE LOWER KEY TORCH Visitor Center HARBOR WALTZ KEY WHITING KEY KEY KEYS BAY COON KEYS KEY CRANE KEYS SADDLEBUNCH IDLE FISH KEYS CAYO SPEED HAWK AGUA KEY ZONE HARPER DUCK ROUND KEYS KEY BIG KEY NO GRASSY HARPER MOTOR KEYS KEY ZONE Personal Watercraft (PWC) Closure Zone CHANNEL KEY n Use of personal watercraft (PWC), airboats, hovercrafts, water-skiing and landing of aircrafts or Restricted Boat Access Buoys ultra-lights is prohibited within the boundaries of the n Vessel Exclusion and No Entry Zone BOCA CHICA Key West and Great White Heron National Wildlife KEY Area closed to all boat and visitor access within Refuges (indicated by orange dashed line). areas marked by these buoys or “Area Closed” KEY WEST n signs. Refuge Buoys and Signs A personal watercraft is defined as a State of Florida Class A-1 vessel, shallow-draft, jet-drive watercraft n Combustion Vessel Exclusion n Buoys and signs are used to mark no entry, no motor operated by standing, sitting or kneeling on or Use of internal combustion engines is not allowed and idle speed zones. Buoys are placed in areas behind the vessel (in contrast to a conventional boat within areas marked by “No Motor” buoys. important to wildlife and for human safety. where the operator stands or sits inside the vessel). Propeller driven boats, row boats, kayaks, canoes n Idle Speed Zone n Follow the directions on the buoys. and sail boats are permitted. Other state and federal Watercraft must operate at no greater than idle n These are not mooring buoys—do not tie-up to them. regulations still apply. speed within areas marked by “Idle Speed” buoys. November 2015