United States of America · Spearfishing zone

Eastern Sambo Research-Only Area (Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary)

Prohibited zoneresearch-only area (no-take)

What this zone is

Overview

How spearfishing is treated at Eastern Sambo Research-Only Area (Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary).

Eastern Sambo reef, south of Boca Chica Key, is a Special-use “Research-only area” of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and is closed to entry except in uninterrupted transit or under a NOAA research permit (15 CFR 922.164(e)(3)(ii)). Section 922.164(e)(5) also imposes the reserve-level prohibitions on “spearing” and “fishing by any means” inside it. It sits immediately east of the separately designated Western Sambo Ecological Reserve.

On the coast

Location

Approximate reference point for this zone. See the full picture on the interactive map.

24.4939°N, 81.6622°W

View on the map

Source

This zone is documented in the official source below.

ecfr.gov

Before you dive

License for United States of America

Whether you need a license to spearfish here, and how to get one.

License requiredvia State fish and wildlife agencies (e.g. FWC Florida, CDFW California, Hawaii DLNR/DAR, TPWD Texas); NOAA Fisheries for federal waters/HMS permits.

Purchase from the relevant state fish and wildlife agency online portal, license vendors, or in person. Requirements differ by state and by resident/non-resident status.

Get your license

Opens the official portal · fisheries.noaa.gov

← All spearfishing rules for United States of America