The Monroe County Tourist Development Council has released a new video to communicate lobster harvest regulations and safety tips in advance of the two-day lobster sport season and traditional lobster harvesting season.
The statewide two-day “mini-season” begins at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, July 27, and ends at midnight Thursday night, July 28. Regular lobster season begins at 12:01 a.m. Aug. 6, 2022, and continues through March 31, 2023.
Part of an extensive TDC-produced public awareness initiative, the 2.5-minute video is at KeysLobsterSeason.com and features Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer Capt. David Dipre. He explains rules and regulations for lobster hunting within the Keys such as daily limits and correct harvesting techniques, as well as information on protecting the marine environment. The video wraps up with Dipre discussing dive and boating safety tips.
The lobster season safety video also can be accessed through the island chain’s FloridaKeysTV YouTube channel. The direct link is youtube.com/watch?v=LYrno9yrz5M.
The video and an information brochure are two segments of a lobster season awareness program that includes public service advertisements, digital outdoor advertising, a South Florida radio campaign targeting English- and Spanish-speaking audiences and the dedicated KeysLobsterSeason.com website.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is assisting by publicizing KeysLobsterSeason.com on their portable Dynamic Messaging Signs positioned at points on the Overseas Highway.
Keys lodging and other tourism businesses are encouraged to share the KeysLobsterSeason.com web address with guests before their arrival in the Keys. They can also print out a two-page digital version of the brochure, available on the website, and distribute it to guests after they arrive.
TDC efforts are part of a multi-agency communications strategy by a countywide lobster mini-season task force, started in 2021 by County Commissioner Michelle Coldiron and Marathon Mayor John Bartus. The initiative involves representatives from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Keys municipalities and the tourism industry.
Local, state and federal agencies strictly enforce lobster harvest and boating safety regulations in the Keys.
