Bay Keys Wildlife Management Area

These tiny keys are a series of mangrove islands four miles north of Key West, located inside the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge. They are surrounded by very shallow water with no-motor and idle-speed zones to protect great white herons (Ardea herodias occidentalis), tricolored herons (Egretta tricolor), and little blue herons (Egretta caerulea). The no-motor and idle-speed zones decrease disturbances to nesting and roosting birds without impacting boaters.

Special regulations apply here. Learn more about what activities are allowed in this type of zone.

A summary of all sanctuary regulations is available online. For the full text of sanctuary regulations, see 15 CFR 922 Subpart P.