A lobster is being measured to make sure it's of legal size. Photo / Thomas Strom

During the July 29 to July 30 spiny lobster sport miniseason, countless men and women working for a variety of law-enforcement agencies, such as the National Park Service and Coast Guard, helped make sure people obeyed the rules. But it wasn’t enough to stop four people from dying.

Thousands of freedivers and snorkelers participated in the two-day event, with two men dying in Monroe County, one man dying in Miami-Dade and one more dying in Brevard County.

According to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the dead include Norman Williams Jr., 60, who was struck and killed by a boat about four miles north of Key West; Daniel Pochedley, 48, who was found near Haulover Beach; Shane Slusarz, 35, who died 15 miles northeast of Sebastian Inlet; and a Wellington spearfisherman who was found facedown near Marathon Key.

During 2008’s lobster miniseason, five people died off the coast of South Florida and the Treasure Coast.

The regular season is Aug. 6-March 31.

Anyone with a valid Florida recreational saltwater fishing license and crawfish permit can harvest up to six legal-sized lobsters each day. Catching egg-bearing female lobsters and using spearguns or other hook-type instruments are prohibited.