These islands have been a historic landing spot for Cuban migrant rafters, who leave behind their rustic vessels known as “chugs” that contain batteries, fuel, oil, polystyrene foam, plastic, and other hazardous materials.

The abundance of "derelict vessels" in the Florida Keys in 2026 is the result of a "perfect storm" of high maintenance costs, frequent hurricanes, and legal loopholes. Many boat owners move to the Keys with dreams of living on the water, but they quickly realize that the salt environment and tropical sun cause rapid deterioration that is expensive to fix. When a major storm—like the several that hit between 2022 and 2025—damages a poorly maintained boat, the owner often finds that the cost of salvage exceeds the vessel's value. Rather than paying thousands for proper disposal, some "ghost" the boat by removing the hull identification numbers and letting it drift or sink in the mangroves. This creates a massive environmental hazard, as fuel and lead-acid batteries leak into the sensitive coral reef ecosystem. In 2026, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has intensified its "Derelict Vessel Removal Program," but the sheer volume of abandoned boats continues to outpace the state's budget for specialized barge and crane recovery operations.