Crane Key Wildlife Management Area

Located bayside and due north of Cudjoe Key in the Lower Keys, Crane Key has the highest post-Irma annual count of nesting great white herons in the backcountry, and serves as an important island for other nesting, roosting and foraging birds. This Wildlife Management Area has been established as no entry to decrease disturbance of nesting and roosting birds, including the magnificent frigatebird and great white heron. Additional protections would reduce flushing of these birds from their nests and roosting sites. Shallow seagrass flats exhibit light-to-moderate prop scarring.

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.