Spiny Lobster Traps

Florida spiny lobster is one of the most popular and heavily trapped seafoods in the state. Every year, lobster season brings hundreds of thousands of traps into Florida's waters — and every year, a significant number of those traps go derelict. The spiny lobster fishery is centered in the Florida Keys and South Florida, areas that also contain some of the most sensitive coral reef ecosystems in North America. When lobster traps are lost or abandoned on these reefs, they don't just ghost fish — they physically damage the coral that the entire ecosystem depends on. Understanding how lobster traps work, what happens during mini-season, and how to report derelict gear is a critical part of protecting Florida's reefs.