The U.S. Coast Guard and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) issued a safety warning this Thursday in anticipation of the upcoming spiny lobster mini-season, which will take place on July 29 and 30 along the Florida coast.
Agents from both institutions will patrol the coastal waters to enforce state and federal fishing laws, as well as nautical safety regulations.
Scott Szczepaniak, recreational boating safety specialist for the Coast Guard’s Southeastern District, emphasized the importance of caution: “The mini lobster season is a very popular event; boaters need to be prepared and make it as safe as possible. It is essential to maintain good situational awareness. If in doubt, reduce speed! One of the most common ways we have seen people get injured is by colliding with other boats, bridges, or the seabed.”
The authorities established three priority rules for those participating in the event.
First, navigators must reduce speed to a minimum within 300 feet of a dive flag in open water.
Secondly, the engine must be turned off completely when there are divers or swimmers near the vessel.
Third, every lobster captured must be measured: the shell must exceed 3 inches (7.62 cm) to be legal, measured in a straight line from the front edge between the horns to the back edge, not including the tail.
Regarding catch limits, in Monroe County and Biscayne National Park, the cap is six lobsters per person per day, while in the rest of Florida, the limit increases to 12 per person per day.
The Coast Guard also reminded the public of other safety regulations: do not overload the vessel, check the navigation lights before departure, keep the engine cutoff switch activated while navigating, and boat sober.
"The marine environment accelerates the effects of alcohol," the official statement warned.
The FWC also reminded about the areas where fishing is completely prohibited: John Pennekamp State Park, Everglades National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, the no-catch zones of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, and the Biscayne Bay Lobster Sanctuary.
In addition, harpoons, hooks, tools that pierce the shell, and separating tails underwater are prohibited. Females with eggs cannot be captured under any circumstances.
"The Southeast District of the Coast Guard and the FWC are fully deployed and patrolling the waters of Florida to protect our boaters and conserve our marine resources. Let’s keep this mini-season safe, legal, and accident-free," the statement concluded.
The history of mini-season justifies the alert. According to data from Divers Alert Network (DAN), the event has recorded an average of two diving deaths per season over the last decade, and between 2004 and 2013, the two days of mini-season accounted for 20 of the 48 deaths related to lobster harvesting throughout Florida.
In the 2025 edition of the mini-season, which took place on July 30 and 31, several individuals were arrested for violating regulations.
Related videos:
Filed under: