Are the Florida Keys overfished?


Are the Florida Keys overfished? The findings echo warnings made more than two decades ago by some of the same researchers who found 70 percent of Keys reef fish were overfished.


Can you swim in the ocean in the Florida Keys?

You can also swim and enjoy other water sports like windsurfing and snorkeling as well as kayaking and paddleboarding in the clear, clean water inhabited by tropical fish.


Is Florida Keys safe right now?

The crime rate in the Florida Keys is low, but you should still use common sense when exploring Key West, especially at night and around hectic Duval Street and Mallory Square. Exercise caution when going into the water as well; be sure to heed all flags and warnings from authorities.


Are there alligators in Key West?

Probably not. There's simply not enough fresh water in Key West, which has no lakes, no rivers, and gets significantly less rainfall than the Upper Keys, Everglades, or Miami. Occasionally, Key West gets American Crocodiles.


Do hurricanes ever hit the Florida Keys?

1999 - Hurricane Irene reached hurricane status while crossing the Florida Straits in 1999. Its eye passed over Key West, making landfall near Cape Sable. Most of its strong winds were confined to the Lower and Middle Keys. The storm resulted in indirect deaths on the mainland and significant damage in Florida.


Are there alligators in the Keys ocean?

Occasionally, Key West gets American Crocodiles. Croc's feel more at-home in our saltwater canals than 'gators. However, if you drive about 45 minutes up the Keys to an island called Big Pine, which has the largest freshwater lense in the Lower Keys, and head to the “Blue Hole,” you'll probably see American alligators.


Why are there no waves in Florida Keys?

Key West , like the rest of the Florida Keys is not known as a 'beach destination' There is a good reason for this: America's only living coral reef (and the world's third longest barrier reef). The barrier reef does it's job of protecting the Florida Keys from large ocean waves.