The Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary and the Florida Wildlife Commission hosts the annual Lobster Information Booth at Mile Marker 106 bayside in Key Largo, Florida. Each year, the lobster mini-season falls on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July. This year, mini-season opens at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday July 30, and closes at midnight on Thursday, July 31. Regular lobster season always begins on Aug. 6 and closes March 31.
The booth will open Saturday, July 26, to greet visitors arriving in the Keys for lobster mini-season and remain open through Wednesday, July 30. The mini lobster season opens July Hours are Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon.
The booth provides an opportunity to learn about new rules affecting mini-season bag limits, prohibiting diving for lobster on illegally placed artificial habitats and limiting diving and snorkeling for lobster in the Village of Islamorada.
Two free presentations are being offered through the NMS and the Florida Conservation Commission. The seminars are about the spiny lobster and will be held in Key Largo and Key West, Florida. Dave Eaken, outreach coordinator for FWC’s Florida Marine Research Institute, will narrate a slide show following the life of lobsters in the Dry Tortugas National Marine Park.
The Key Largo seminar will be held on Wednesday, July 16, at 7:30 p.m. at the Key Largo Library in the Tradewinds Shopping Plaza, MM 101.5. The Key West presentation takes place at 7:30 p.m., Monday, July 21, at the Key West Library, 700 Fleming St.
For more information, contact any Sanctuary office at Key West 292-0311, Marathon: 743-2437 or Key Largo 852.7717 or visit: http://www.floridaconservation.org/
Source: Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary; Florida Conservation Commission
