East Content and Upper Harbor Key Flats Wildlife Management Area

These islands, located north of Big Pine Key and east of Content Passage, are dissected by several shallow tidal creeks and are inaccessible to most vessels at low tide. Several heron species and white ibises (Eudocimus albus) use the interior tidal creeks. An area 3.65 square miles in size has been designated idle-speed/no wake zones, including the tidal creeks.

Upper Harbor Key is a mangrove island surrounded by flats and accessible at high tide. Its location is noted by a red circle inside the idle speed zone. This denotes a 300-foot no-entry zone around the island, which is used by various bird species including ospreys (Pandion haliaetus), frigatebirds (Fregata magnificens), double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus), and wading birds.

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.