Virginia Key No Entry Zone
Dade County

Location:
The Virginia Key No Entry Zone is immediately to the west of Virginia Key in northern Biscayne Bay. Virginia Key is located in mid-Dade County to the southeast of the City of Miami bordered by Fisher Island and Government Cut to the north and Key Biscayne to the south. The Atlantic Ocean lies immediately to the east of the island. Extensive seagrass meadows comprised of turtle grass, manatee grass (Syringodium filiforme) and Cuban shoal grass among others surround the island.

Date of Seagrass Protection Zone Authorization:
December, 1991

Authorization:
Section 62N-22.025(1)(e)(1.), F.A.C..; Specific Authority Section 370.12(2)(f),(g), (n), F.S.

Wording on Signs:
15 bouys surrounding the western border of the zone: "No Entry"

1 5x7 red rectangle metallic sign mounted on 12" pilings off the narrow peninsula north of the Marine Stadium:"Manatee Zone, No Entry".

Enforcement:
Dade County Sheriff’s Department, Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Officers and Florida Marine Patrol.

Enforcement Action:
Violations of no entry zones are treated as misdemeanors with citations provided to the vessel operator and associated fines levied pursuant to Sections 370.021(2) (a) or (b), F.S. If violators of these zones demonstrate blatant or willful action, they may be found guilty of manatee harassment as described in Section 370.12(2)(d), F.S. Note: " No Entry" zones in Chapter 62N-22, F.A.C act as manatee sanctuaries. As such entry by people in any form (i.e. boat, on foot, etc.) is a violation unless an appropriate permit has been issued by DEP.

History:
Manatee aerial survey and telemetry data collected prior to 1991 indicated to federal and state environmental managers that the seagrass meadows adjacent to Virginia Key were used extensively during the winter months by relatively large numbers of manatees moving into Dade County waters seeking warmer winter water temperatures. Manatees were, however, observed using these seagrass systems throughout the year and this evidence indicated that a seasonal restricted zone would not provide sufficient protection for this important regional manatee feeding resource. Adjacent lands were not developed and were protected by existing regulations including those developed by the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission for wading bird rookeries, which provided an undisturbed mangrove buffer to landward human activities. The Department of Environmental Protection established this no entry zone based on high levels of manatee mortality in Dade County waters coupled with the demonstrated knowledge that this area was an important feeding area. Now manatees can feed in open Biscayne Bay waters adjacent to one of the most densely urbanized areas of the state without fear of harassment and in addition, seagrass communities are protected from boat grounding and propeller scarring impacts.

 Return to Index | Return to Top