Lobster law enforcement

RIVIERA BEACH, FL--During the lobster mini-season officers are out in full force.  And they have a lot to do.

"The main objective is obviously resource enforcement for the mini-season," said Officer Erik Howell, of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

But law enforcement is not out to ruin anybody's fun. They insist officers are just around to make sure people are playing it safe, and playing by the rules.

"To make sure that people that are in the water diving, to make sure that they do have their dive flags up and as well as traffic in the area maintain a safe distance from those boats with divers in the water," said Howell.

And then of course there are the little, more individual things to check.

"Can I see four life jackets?  A throwable?" Officer Howell asks four gentlemen he has just tied up next to.

And just because it's a mini-season, doesn't mean you can bring in a "mini-lobster!"

"To make sure it's legal you have to hook it between the eyes.  And see how, that's obviously very big," said Officer Howell as he uses his gauge to measure a rather larger lobster.

Most people seem to have everything in order, but besides the numerous stops he makes every hour, Officer Howell has to be ready to respond to some serious problems every year.

"People that haven't dove in a while, haven't checked their tanks.  We do have a lot of... fatalities every year with divers having issues with their regulators," said Howell.

Officers also have to be ready to assist other local and federal agencies at a moment’s notice. 

"Slow speed zones, manatee zones, boating accidents," Officer Howell said as he listed some of the many things law enforcement has to monitor.

But in the end, law enforcement officers just have a few simple requests.

"Be careful.  Pay attention to what's going on around you," said Howell.

"And have a good time?" he's asked.

"And have a good time!" he responded.