Who We Are and What We Do

The FKNMS Law Enforcement Team is comprised of:

• 1 Captain - Marathon
• 4 Lieutenants - Key Largo, Marathon, Key West
• 12 Officers - Upper Keys, Lower Keys
• click here for more on the FKNMS LE Officers

The mission of the Law Enforcement Team is carried out through a combination of training, quick response, interpretive law enforcement, proactive law enforcement, and thinking outside the box.

Each Officer is a State of Florida Law Enforcement Officer under the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and has been through the State of Florida Law Enforcement Academy and Field Officer Training Program. Each Officer is also is a NOAA diver and is a US Coast Guard Vessel Captain.

The primary responsibility of FKNMS Officers are those geographic areas and duties specific to Sanctuary enforcement. Covering an area approximately nine times the size of the state of Rhode Island, FKNMS LE Officers enforce Florida State boating laws, State and Federal Fishing Regulations and Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Regulations. FKNMS LE Officers also respond to vessel groundings where they area trained to investigate the circumstances resulting in a grounding and to assess any damages which may have occurred as a result such a grounding.

Sanctuary Officers also conduct and assist is search and rescue operations and often interact with Monroe County Deputies, Key West Police Department, the USCG, US Customs, US Border Patrol and other FWC Officers.

Vessels

Near Shore enforcement is carried out using a 28' Sea Vee and a 30' Manta. Offshore enforcement is carried out using the "Sentinel," a 41' utility boat and the "Pt. Monroe," an 82' cutter.