Monroe County finishes major derelict vessel cleanup across Keys

Monroe County completed a yearlong cleanup of derelict vessels across the Florida Keys, removing 237 abandoned or derelict boats since August 2024 and reducing active cases from more than 300 to just 44. The effort wrapped up in early January and was funded by a $3 million American Rescue Plan Act grant in partnership with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Specialized vessel salvage contractors worked the chain from Key Largo to Key West, hauling a total of 74 vessels out of the Upper Keys, 46 from the Middle Keys, and 116 from the Lower Keys. Notable removal locations included Tarpon Basin, Buttonwood Sound, Barley Basin in the Upper Keys, and Boca Chica Basin, Man of War Harbor, and Seaplane Basin in the Lower Keys. Some projects required unusually heavy lifting, including a 65-foot cabin cruiser from Sisters Creek in Marathon, a 53-foot vessel aground in Bahia Honda State Park, a 66-foot shrimp boat off Upper Matecumbe Key, and a 96-foot yellow submarine on Boot Key in Marathon.

The cleanup effort combined broad waterway searches and concentrated salvage operations. “FWC officers searched the water from one end of the Keys to the other, while our removal contractors worked nonstop over the past year,” said Marine Resources Senior Administrator Brittany Burtner. “At one point, through collaboration, 44 boats were removed in under five weeks. It made a huge difference for the safety of other boaters and the environment.”

For local boaters, dock owners and waterfront businesses, the reduction in derelict vessels means clearer channels, fewer navigation hazards, and less risk of pollution from leaking fuel and deteriorating hulls. The removals also help protect seagrass beds and coral habitat inside sanctuary waters, which are vital to commercial and recreational fisheries that sustain the Keys economy.

Marinas and charter operators are likely to see more predictable access to slips and channels as the backlog eases, and the cleanup can bolster the visitor experience that drives winter and spring tourism in Monroe County. The coordinated effort also demonstrated how federal relief funds, state enforcement and federal sanctuary staff can work with local contractors to address an environmental and safety problem that has long frustrated residents.

The takeaway? Keep an eye on channel markers, report suspected derelict vessels to FWC, and let your local marina know when hazards appear. Clearing the backlog makes for safer water days and healthier reefs, and a little neighborhood vigilance will help keep it that way.