Looe Key Research-Only Area (Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary)

One of the four Special-use “Research-only areas” of appendix VI to 15 CFR part 922 subpart P, on the reef north-east of Looe Key off Big Pine Key. 15 CFR 922.164(e)(3) closes it to entry except in passage without interruption, for law enforcement, or under a NOAA National Marine Sanctuary General or Historical Resources permit, and 922.164(e)(5) applies the reserve-level prohibitions on “spearing” and “fishing by any means” there as well. Do not confuse it with the Looe Key Sanctuary Preservation Area: the two do not overlap in latitude or longitude and this area lies about 2.7 km north-east of the SPA pin, its closest vertices 1.3 km apart.