Florida Men Arrested for Breaking into Aquarium and Killing Tarpon: Incident at Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters
Two Florida men have been arrested for breaking into an aquarium in the Florida Keys and killing a tarpon. The incident occurred at the Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters in the early hours of May 25, 2025. Security footage captured the men entering the aquarium, fishing in a private lagoon, catching a 55-inch tarpon, and taking photos of it before throwing it back into the water. The following day, employees discovered the dead tarpon. The suspects were identified as Derrick Lee Vivian, 25, from Fort Myers, and Christopher Jeffrey Smith, 20, from Marathon. Smith was arrested on Wednesday, while Vivian was apprehended on November 8, 2025.
Both Vivian and Smith have been charged with burglary and unlawfully removing a tarpon exceeding 40 inches in length from the water. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office conducted the investigation and made the arrests. The men's actions were captured on security cameras, leading to their identification and subsequent arrest. The incident caused the death of the tarpon, a protected species in Florida waters. The aquarium staff discovered the deceased fish the day after the break-in. The arrests were made separately, with Smith taken into custody first, followed by Vivian a few months later.
The illegal fishing incident at the Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters resulted in the death of a tarpon and led to the arrest of two individuals. The men were caught on camera breaking into the aquarium, fishing in a private lagoon, and handling the tarpon inappropriately. The charges against them include burglary and removing a tarpon larger than the legal limit from the water. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office worked on the case, leading to the identification and arrest of the suspects. The incident highlighted the importance of protecting marine life and following regulations to preserve the ecosystem. The arrests serve as a reminder that illegal activities like this have serious consequences and can harm wildlife.