Canadian Man Arrested in Florida Keys for Illegal Lobster Hunting in Marine Sanctuary
A Canadian man was arrested and jailed in the Florida Keys for illegally hunting spiny lobster using a speargun in a federally-protected marine sanctuary. The man, Marko Gacic from Hamilton, Ontario, was found with an undersized lobster and an egg-bearing…
Tampa St. Petersburg, FL, July 23, 2026 —
A resident of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, was taken into custody in the Florida Keys for allegedly violating federal fishing regulations within a protected marine sanctuary.
Marko Gacic was arrested for illegally hunting spiny lobster using a speargun inside the Alligator Reef Sanctuary Preservation Area, a federally protected zone. Authorities reportedly found Gacic in possession of an undersized spiny lobster and a female lobster that was carrying eggs. Both lobsters had been speared.
The charges against Gacic are related to multiple misdemeanor violations of fishing regulations specific to the sanctuary. The Alligator Reef Sanctuary Preservation Area is designated to protect marine life and habitats, and spearfishing for spiny lobster is prohibited within its boundaries.
Details regarding the specific timeline of the arrest and the full extent of potential penalties were not immediately available. Gacic is currently being held in jail pending further legal proceedings.
Story summarized from the original created by By David Goodhue, Miami Herald (TNS) on www.tampabay.com, see more information here.
