News Release
(U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service release)
Southwest Florida Maritime Cooperative Manatee
Detail
Manatee Enforcement Effort slated for November 10-12
November 8, 2007
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Chuck Underwood, 904-232-2580, ext. 109
FWC: Officer Joanne Adams, 863-581-6990
Southwest Florida Maritime Units have partnered with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to initiate a joint enforcement effort enforcing the federal and state manatee zones in Lee and Collier Counties. The joint enforcement effort will run from Saturday November 10th, through Monday, November 12th.
The federal manatee speed zones are published in the Federal Register. FWS and FWC have posted signs and buoys throughout the designated areas in Lee and Collier Counties to mark the regulated zones.
Numerous marine enforcement units from the areas will be participating in the enforcement detail. Lee and Collier County Sheriff’s Departments, as well as FWS Division of Law Enforcement and FWC law enforcement units and U. S. Coast Guard (USCG) and National Park Service, will be on the water to enforce the manatee zones, and legal requirements within the zones. Multiple marine unites from the local police departments will also be participating in the enforcement detail.
The manatee zone boundaries are marked by large posted signs and also by buoys; both are white in color with international orange lettering. Federal regulations require vessel operators to operate at the appropriate posted speeds within the manatee zones. Portions of the manatee zones are regulated at a maximum speed of 25 mph as well.
According to the regulations, a watercraft is considered to be proceeding at slow speed if the vessel is fully off plane, bow down, and completely settled in the water, not creating an excessive wake. However, if a watercraft is on plane, in the process coming up on or coming off of plane, or creating an excess wake it is not considered to be proceeding at slow speed. There is no mile per hour speed attached to slow and idle zones. Slow speed and idle speed is based upon the attitude of the vessel.
Law enforcement participants in this joint effort will be doing strict enforcement of the manatee zones. Federal fines range from $125 to $25,000 and / or 6 months imprisonment under the endangered species act. The fines increase for each subsequent violation of any state or federal manatee zones throughout the state.
According to FWS law enforcement officials, manatee mortalities related to vessel strikes are generally high in Lee County.
In 2006 there were 21 mortalities caused from vessel strikes in Lee County and one in Collier County.
So far this year there have been 13 mortalities from vessel strikes in Lee County and five in Collier County.
Voluntary compliance is a win-win for boaters and for Florida manatees: providing for safe passage for both through Florida’s waterways.
The federal regulations and maps can be found at http://www.fws.gov/northflorida. Those areas designated as protected pursuant to the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act may be found on FWC’s Web site at: MyFWC.com/manatee/data/mapref.htm.
In those areas where the federal and state zones are not identical, the more restrictive zone takes precedence. The web page maps provide a general overview of the areas that have manatee speed zones but are not a substitute for on-the-water markings. When in doubt, follow the rules as posted on the signs and delineated by the buoys.
Enforcement questions regarding the various zones may be directed to FWS’s Office of Law Enforcement at 352-429-1037 or to contact the FWC at 850-488-4676.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Visit the Service’s Web site at http://www.fws.gov.