Turn your love of snorkeling and the underwater world into hands-on marine science by volunteering with the FWC Spiny Lobster Program in the Florida Keys.
Based at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) Lab in Marathon, the program gives volunteers an opportunity to assist researchers studying the Caribbean spiny lobster, an ecologically and economically important species throughout the Keys.
Volunteer activities can include snorkeling surveys, deploying and retrieving post-larval lobster collectors, assessing spiny lobster health, and gathering data at bayside solution holes. It’s a unique chance to explore Florida Keys habitats while contributing to research used to better understand and manage this valuable fishery.
No specialized skills are required, although experience with snorkeling, boating, and marine life is helpful because much of the work takes place in and around the water. The program is best suited to volunteers interested in consistent, ongoing participation rather than a one-time experience, offering committed participants the chance to build their knowledge and skills over time.
Age requirements apply to younger volunteers. Participants age 15 and younger must be accompanied by an adult, while volunteers ages 17 to 18 require parental approval and may have limitations on certain activities.
For ocean enthusiasts interested in going beyond ordinary snorkeling, the Spiny Lobster Program provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at marine research in the Florida Keys.
Grab your snorkel, lend a hand to science, and help support the research protecting the Keys’ remarkable marine ecosystems for the future.
