Florida Keys
National Marine Sanctuary

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  2. FKNMS

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary protects a coral reef ecosystem that is home to one of North America’s most diverse communities of underwater plants and animals. Nearly 6,000 marine species inhabit the coral reefs, mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, and other habitats of the Florida Keys. The sanctuary protects these resources that support the region’s tourism and fishing-based economy. The ecosystem attracts tourists who enjoy diving, boating, and other forms of ocean recreation, and sustains valuable commercial and recreational fisheries. The sanctuary also helps preserve the nation’s maritime history by protecting shipwrecks and other irreplaceable heritage resources.

Learn more about Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary at floridakeys.noaa.gov.

A graphical map showing the location of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The sanctuary is a large, aqua-colored area that wraps around the Florida Keys and extends into the Gulf of America. Miami is labeled to the northeast, and Key Largo and Key West are labeled within the sanctuary's boundaries, showing its length from the upper to the lower keys.
This graphic map illustrates the waters protected by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The sanctuary's boundaries encompass the Florida Keys, with Key Largo, Key West, and Miami labeled to show the sanctuary's location and scale.

Quick Facts

Location: The water surrounding the archipelago formed by the Florida Keys

Protected Area: 4,539 square miles

Designation:December 1975: Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary; January 1981: Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary; November 1990: Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary; March 2025: Sanctuary Expansion

Habitats:

  • Coral reefs
  • Hardbottom
  • Mangrove-fringed shorelines & islands
  • Sand flats
  • Seagrass meadows

Key Species:

  • Boulder corals (brain and star)
  • Eagle ray
  • Elkhorn and staghorn corals
  • Green sea turtle
  • Loggerhead sponge
  • Nurse shark
  • Spiny lobster
  • Tarpon
  • White heron
  • Yellowtail snapper

Sanctuary Highlight

a seagrass meadow
Read

NOAA Leads Project to Restore a Seagrass Meadow in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Multimedia

Our Planet is an Ocean Planet: Earth Is Blue.

No matter where you are, the ocean and Great Lakes are in your hands. We hope these images and videos from Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary inspire you to help care for our ocean and to spread the word that Earth isn't green—it's blue.

Coastal mangroves and seagrass are nurseries for many species of fish, invertebrates and birds that inhabit Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. These calm, shallow waters are ideal for paddle sports, snorkeling, and fishing for species like tarpon. The offshore coral reef features elkhorn and brain corals, sponges, and other invertebrates which create habitat for spiny lobster, urchins, and many other species of reef fish like sergeant major and larger fish like sharks, rays, barracuda, and snapper.
diver transplants corals
A green eel with its mouth slightly open
photo of a school of colorful fish
Christ of the Deep in the florida keys
cheeca rocks reef

National Marine Sanctuary System

national marine Sanctuary system map

Safeguarding America's Premier Marine Places

From Washington state to the Gulf of America and from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Islands, the National Marine Sanctuary System protects 18 underwater parks spanning over 629,000 square miles of ocean and Great Lakes waters. By investing in innovative solutions, we strengthen these iconic places to address 21st-century challenges while supporting America's commerce and tourism. These unique locations inspire people to visit, value, and steward our nation’s iconic ocean and Great Lakes waters.