Crab Island 2021: New Changes
If you’re planning on visiting Crab Island in 2021, you’ve probably heard all kinds of mixed information about what is and isn’t allowed at Crab Island in 2021. Crab Island has undergone many new rule changes in the last several years. It can be challenging each season to know how to plan for the latest round of changes, and there is so much misinformation circulating on social media by well-meaning but often misinformed posters, that we try to do our best by posting a yearly update for our visitors so that you can know exactly what to expect, from the actual people who work at Crab Island and who are in direct contact with the decision-makers.
You can catch up on most of those changes and the history behind them in last year’s post about Crab Island in 2020.
Recap from last year
If you recall, previously there was a limitation placed on vendors that did not allow overnight anchoring, which unfortunately brought everyone’s favorite Crab Island Water Park and most of the big floating restaurants to an end. Mobile food vendors were still allowed at that point, so you could still buy ice cream, boiled peanuts, fresh coconuts and pineapples, t-shirts, etc at Crab Island. A couple of restaurants, like Reef Burger, were able to scale down the size of their operations a bit to be able to remove their set-ups daily per the new requirements. Excursions, captained vessels, and recreational boats of all kinds still made their way out to Crab Island for fun in the sun, and the Crab Island Adventure Tour was born as a (legal) alternative offering for those who still wanted inflatables.
Crab Island 2021 Rules
The National Parks Service (federal government), which has officially claimed jurisdiction over Crab Island, hosted 2 virtual meetings in November, where they publicly stated they will implement even more rules and restrictions, most notably: whether or not to allow vendors at Crab Island. This year, they said, starting in March 2021, the National Parks Service would only allow recreational vessels and commercial vessels with a CUA (commercial use authorization) at Crab Island and that they would be putting an end to all vending at the sandbar and surrounding areas under their jurisdiction (this includes on the actual sandbar and at the Gulf Islands National Seashore, marked on the map above). You can listen to the recorded calls from the virtual meetings they hosted in November here, where it is specifically stated that the federal government does not consider concessions and vending at the sandbar to be a “necessary or appropriate use of the park”. The key takeaway from these public meetings at that time was that you would be able to rent or charter boats or take an excursion to the popular Crab Island sandbar to hang out and enjoy the natural beauty of the area, but you would no longer be able to purchase anything while you are there.
Many vendors, understandably, were very upset about this as this decision would effectively put them out of business. But, we got lucky…
Citing delays from COVID and from Hurricane Sally, the National Parks Service announced on February 19, 2021 that they have not been able to meet the March 2021 deadline they had previously set for their Commercial Services Strategy. Because of that delay, they have granted the businesses at Crab Island one more year, with the same restrictions from 2020. This means there will still be mobile food and t-shirt vendors as well as smaller floating restaurants at Crab Island for the 2021 operating season. The Crab Island Shuttle Boat and Crab Island Adventure Tour will also continue to operate as advertised (including the inflatables that are included with the Adventure Tour). Overnight anchoring is still prohibited.
How to Prepare for New Changes at Crab Island in 2021
If you have never been to Crab Island and want to check it out, this may be the last year that you can get the “full experience”. If you go every year and were disappointed that this year was going to be different, you have another year! Rent a boat or book an excursion and make visiting Crab Island a priority. Book early, because the news is spreading fast!
Confirmed Returning Vendors
Current approved vendors (as of 4/9/21) include Crab Island Boiled Peanuts, Crab Island Grill, Frickin’ Ridiculous BBQ, Sea Cow Ice Cream and Smoothies, Jimmy’s Ice Cream & T-Shirts, and the Crab Island Shuttle Boat and Adventure Tour . These businesses have been granted CUAs for 2021 and are approved to operate at Crab Island by the County. We have heard that Reef Burger and Wild Coconuts plan to also return later this 2021 season. Dates on those still TBD (Reef Burger is hoping to open May 1, but stay tuned). This post will be updated as new vendors get approval and begin operating at Crab Island in 2021. (Please note that we cannot guarantee that all vendors will be out every day after they receive approval. Vendors are independently operated businesses and are not owned or managed by Destin Vacation Boat Rentals).
How to stay up to date on information about Crab Island 2021
This post will be updated as new information is released by either the National Parks Service or the Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners. Bookmark this page to check back for Crab Island 2021 updates. If you’ve learned something new, please share this post and spread the word!
So basically they are saying it’s OK for those renting a pontoon/jet ski (a majority unexperierenced boaters and drunk driving) to continue to go to Crab Island, but an experienced, sober, charter captain can no longer bring guests there. I wonder how many sober people will be on Crab Island now that can keep an eye on those in the water that are in danger. I have seen and helped countless people get back to their boats because they were swiftly pulled away with the changing currents. I can definitely see the revenue in Destin going down in this trickle effect and unfortunately, a rise in accidents. I can only assume that this is to allow the federal government to fill their pockets with annual park fees for businesses to go to a sandbar. Shameful in my opinion.
Rich, you are preaching to the choir! We agree that something needs to be done at Crab Island. Eliminating captained commercial vessels is not it. I would encourage you to reach out to the Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners and contact them about your feelings. We have been gaining support at the County level and I believe if the National Parks Service feels that they have the support of the County, who are largely in charge of enforcement, they may be willing to ease up some on the proposed restrictions. http://www.co.okaloosa.fl.us/bcc/home
We’re not all drunk drivers. We’d like to bring our own boats out.
All these changes are just sad. All they have accomplished is to put a bunch of locals out of business, and fail to address the real problem. As a local boat owner, I often refuse to take my boat out because of the traffic. The peanut, ice cream, etc., vendors have never been an issue. You have locals working those who know our waters, no know the rules of the road, and are very respectful and cautious. The real problem is the hundreds of rental boats and PWC’s with people who have never operated a watercraft, have no idea what the navigation rules are, no respect at all in no wake zones, and could careless about our environment or sealife. THAT is where the changes need to be made. I realize they recently implemented rules regarding the rental company capacity, but the rules need to address those who rent those vessels. Stricter requirements to rent, proof of prior boat ownership, something more that a 30 minute video that most renters are not paying attention to anyway. Something! We almost hit two people last year just idling through the harbor to get to the pass. Just darted right in front of us at the funnel. We have a large vessel, we can’t just stop. People are going to die. I don’t want it to be from getting hit by my vessel, even if it is their fault. Therefore, boating here is no longer enjoyable when all you do is sit at the dock.
It looks like they got the National Park Service involved because of grass beds. No way these restrictions will be enough to restore the habitat. My point is, get the feds out of this.
I am not sure why the apparent sudden interest by NPS to help with the management of Crab Island. I worked at GUIS as District Ranger from 1986 to 2000 and the subject of Crab Island’s management never came up. I certainly hope that NPS does not take an active role in enforcing water safety and water quality issues because GUIS barely has enough staffing to operate the rest of the park. Crab Island has one of the highest concentrations of recreational boats in NW Florida and it requires regular enforcement by USCG, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, and State of Florida Fish and Wildlife Officers. If NPS wants to offer expertise on issuing commercial use licenses and managing sea grass beds, I think that this would be a suitable role but I recommend that it stays out of the enforcement side.
Skip, according to former Superintendent Dan Brown, the NPS was unaware for a number of years that Crab Island even fell within the bounds of their jurisdiction. At some point either the County or the City of Destin must have brought it to their attention and they have been trying to work out the logistics ever since. This has been a process through the past several years with progressive tightening of restrictions at all levels of government: starting with the City of Destin, who quickly found they didn’t have jurisdiction over Crab Island, then the County, who shares jurisdiction and is in charge of enforcement, and finally landing in the lap of the NPS.
Heather, I agree with you on all points. 23 years ago, our captained excursion sailing vessel, The Nathaniel Bowditch was on of the first boats to offer swimming and snorkeling excursions in the area 300 yards west of the Coast Guard station. We continue to offer eco friendly 45 minute stops aboard our newer vessel Catrywampus. We do not allow the collection of shells or other marine life. Our customers are educated on the local birds, fish, and other wildlife. Also, our vessel offers a restroom and a captain and crew who monitor the safety of everyone on board. Rental boats are not able to monitor any of these things. When is the next public meeting? To whom should we address our concerns regarding this matter?
Kristy, the time for public comments has unfortunately passed as far as the NPS goes. We have been working with the County and the NPS for years to no avail. Now that we have a new board on the County Commission, we do seem to be gathering support, the problem is that they are “outranked” by the feds. Our hope is that the County can encourage the NPS to continue to allow us to operate with a CUA (which has been required to operate within the bounds of the National Seashore since 2019. This requires changes to your insurance and 3% of your gross income to be remitted to the federal government for use of the “park”). NPS is considering not issuing CUAs at all, which would be devastating to our local businesses. I would encourage you to write to our Board of County Commissioners and voice your opinion. We need their support desperately.
Our government ruins literally everything. It’s like they see people having a good time or prospering and they’re like wait a minute, we better intervene and put a stop to this. And everyone just lets them. Ridiculous.
Absolutely Ali, frigging 60 years old so tired of having bureaucrats shove **it down our throats because they have so much time on their hands they can just sit around and think of ways to screw hard working honest citizens having a little fun and maybe making a little extra cash which by the way is 100% based on the weather. The locals are the Police. We’re the ones watching out for the drunk non experienced boat renters, we’re the ones that voluntarily pick up a little trash from time to time, we’re the ones who know to park and set others up to watch the tide changes, etc. Please bureaucrats let adults think for themselves.