MONROE COUNTY, Fla. – The 2026 lobster mini season wrapped up in Monroe County with typical compliance levels and zero physical arrests, though emergency crews responded to two notable incidents on Wednesday.
According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, overall activity during the event was standard compared to recent years, with most boaters and divers following local regulations.
In the Lower Keys, deputies located an injured sea turtle near the Shark Key boat ramp on Wednesday after it was struck by a boat propeller. The turtle was alive when found, and staff from the Turtle Hospital in Marathon responded to the scene to handle its treatment.
Also on Wednesday, a multi-agency rescue effort was launched off Duck Key after three divers became separated from their boat.
Officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, alongside personnel from the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy, assisted in the search. All three divers were found and reported no serious injuries.
Combined preliminary numbers from Wednesday across all four Sheriff’s Office districts, stretching from Key Largo to Key West, showed:
- Approximately 560 resource checks
- 0 physical arrests
- Approximately 22 mandatory notice-to-appear court citations
The Sheriff’s Office noted these figures reflect only its own enforcement actions and do not include totals from partner agencies, including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Florida Highway Patrol, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Navy.
READ: Injured Turtle Rescued, No Arrests Made On Day 1 Of Lobster Mini Season In The Florida Keys
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