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.