Dry Tortugas National Park lies at the farthest end of the Florida Keys, closer to Cuba than to the American mainland. To reach this remote ocean wilderness one must travel by boat or plane over 68 nautical miles of open sea. The park is home to historical and natural wonders above and below the water's surface and has long been an inspiration to visitors.
The park's coral and sea grass communities are among the most vibrant in the Florida Keys. The Sooty Tern finds its only regular nesting site in the United States on Bush Key, adjacent to Fort Jefferson. Large sea turtles lumber onto the park's protected beaches each summer to bury their clutches of eggs. These and other wonders make this park a truly one-of-a-kind place.
Dry Tortugas Research Natural Area was established in 2007 to add a new layer of protection for the marine resources by not allowing fishing or anchoring. This 46-square-mile no-take and no-anchor ecological preserve in the northwestern part of the park provides a sanctuary for species affected by fishing and loss of habitat. The Research Natural Area complements the adjacent Tortugas Ecological Reserve in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, creating the largest no-take marine reserve in the continental United States.
Scientific and other educational activities consistent with the management of the Research Natural Area require advance permits from the National Park Service. No fishing is allowed in the Research Natural Area in order to protect and build up important nursery and spawning areas for wildlife. Anchors are prohibited in order to protect the fragile coral reefs that form habitat for reef-dwelling species. Elkhorn and staghorn coral are both federally listed as threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
The regulations were developed through a science-based cooperative process with extensive public involvement and have been implemented to protect the fragile marine resources while preserving opportunities for public use. Scientific data collected within the Research Natural Area will allow for establishment of a baseline from which future changes to the marine environment can be assessed.
