The government shutdown has forced the closure of national parks and monuments, but it has also made some popular off-shore spots off limits.
The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge stretches from the Banana River near Port Canaveral up to Mosquito Lagoon near Oak Hill.
The refuge and the waters are closed because of the shutdown.
We know you can close a gate on a park, but how do you close off the water?
Delbert Dewees owns the Mosquito Lagoon RV Park. He said it sits along the banks of Mosquito Lagoon for one reason and one reason only.
“It's for fishing. If you're not coming here to fish, there's not much more to do, but fishing, whether it be shell fishing or line fishing or whatever,” Dewees said.
His phone has been ringing all week long, but with the Lagoon pretty much shut down, they aren't good calls.
“It's been ringing for people canceling. Yeah, it's not been good at all. I have no cabins rented out this weekend and I'm usually full every weekend for fishermen and there's just none.”
Jane Whaley, a supervisory wildlife officer with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Office said the waters of Mosquito Lagoon south of Oak Hill are part of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, and as such, are included in the government shutdown.
If you're caught in the federal waters, you'll be asked to leave.
Refuse the order and you could be cited.
We contacted a number of local guides who make their living fishing in Mosquito Lagoon. No one wanted to go on camera for fear of reprisals. However, they all fell into two distinct camps: those who will just fish to the north, and then those who will keep fishing the lagoon, daring law enforcement to catch them.
Lee Adler goes over a couple times a week from Lake Mary to fish the area.
He said you couldn't tell the waters were closed today.
“I saw half a dozen boats out there. So I guess either other people aren't informed or they're just ignoring that closure.”
Also in our area, the St Johns and Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuges were closed.