Florida Keys Lobster Season Threatened As CBP, ICE Boat Boardings Leave Crews Missing

U.S. immigration enforcement has begun boarding lobster boats in the Florida Keys, arresting several predominantly Nicaraguan crew members — including some with work permits — and prompting many immigrant fishermen to stop working out of fear of detention and deportation. Captains report crews leaving or hiding, leaving boats idle and traps unmonitored, which is deepening financial strain on an industry already battered by hurricanes, gentrification and rising operating costs. Export demand has been weakened by tariffs, adding volatility to prices and buyers’ willingness to commit. Captains call for visa reforms better suited to commercial fishermen; human consequences include lost remittances and threatened livelihoods.