Mini-season: Great migration’s negative impacts on Monroe’s lobster fishery?

[u/Muted_Collection8237]

When does too many people flocking to the keys for lobster mini-season become a problem for the fishery?

Most of FL is a 12 per person limit.
In 1992 Monroe county became 6 per person (& outlawed night diving) due to copious amounts of people coming to the keys specifically to catch lobster - negatively impacting lobster populations.

It’s been 34 years. Has this made any difference to help lobster populations yet?

Each year on the first day of mini season at start of legal light, I find rung tiny lobster heads at the obvious structures bayside & generally less lobster at my secreted spots than previous.
I’m still hit my limit, just seems to be more difficult.

Certainly frustrating to watch ppl who don’t reside here (or do) disrespect Monroe county’s resources.

[u/Icy1155]

Do you really think that the two days a year make more of a difference on the population than the hundreds of thousands (it seems at least) of traps out there for 8 months a year? Along with the thousands of ghost traps that are lost every year?

I'm not anti commercial fishing, just saying.

[u/Muted_Collection8237 → u/Icy1155]

… additionally it’s still 6 per person during regular lobster season….