Naval Air Station Key West, with support of Coast Guard Sector Key West and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, is reminding boaters that mooring is illegal in the restricted waters west of Fleming Key.

Safety perimeters for weapons/ammunition storage facilities are published in the Federal Register and went into effect on Sept. 10, 2007. In 2009, the City of Key West placed a series of buoys to designate the safety zone made possible through a $150,000 grant from the Governor’s Florida Defense Alliance Enterprise Florida program. While only a handful of the buoys remain, the restricted areas are clearly marked on every maritime GPS navigation device.

Boats that fail to move from the designated restricted waters will be subject to further legal action.

“Boaters that are illegally moored west of Fleming Key have placed themselves directly into the explosive safety arcs around our weapons/ammunition storage areas,” said NAS Key West Commanding Officer Capt. Bobby Baker. “Those are unsafe places to be. I also want to remind boaters to make themselves aware of all the restricted areas around Navy property and to remain clear.”

For more information, contact the NAS Key West Public Affairs Office at (305) 293-2027.