The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has approved updates to the boundary coordinates for seven Coral Formation Protection Zones within John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo. The decision was made during the FWC's August meeting.
The revised boundaries are intended to improve coral reef habitat protection while allowing more access for lobster harvesting and trap deployment in seagrass and sand areas. The changes will affect the following zones: Turtle Rocks, Basin Hill, Higdon’s Reef, Cannon Patch, Mosquito Bank North, Mosquito Bank Southeast, and Three Sisters.
Buoys marking the new boundaries will be placed in the park waters. The updated zones will take effect on July 1, 2026.
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is recognized as the first underwater park in the United States and contains part of the only living coral reef on the continental U.S. Coral Formation Protection Zones were originally set up in 1994 to help safeguard coral reef habitats within the park. The latest modifications are expected to increase habitat protection while also opening noncoral areas for lobstering activities.
For additional details about the full agenda from the August 13-14 Commission Meeting, including background reports, visit MyFWC.com/About and select “The Commission” followed by “Commission Meetings.”