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Law enforcement agencies will be out in force at Dog Island May 23, 2008 It’s become a tradition, and if the past is an indication, close to 1,000 boaters will cross Apalachee Bay on Sunday as they take part in what has become known as the “White Trash Bash” at Dog Island. They make the seven-mile trip across the bay to take part in a day of cooking out, swimming and partying. “We understand that people want to enjoy themselves, but they must have a designated boat operator who is not under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” said Capt. Craig Duval, who heads up the six easternmost counties in the Panhandle for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Duval said boaters can get out of their vessels in the water at Dog Island but cannot enter or cross the posted bird sanctuaries on the island or enter private property without landowner permission. “Those sites are marked to protect nesting shorebirds, and we ask everyone who goes to the island to respect the closed areas,” he said. The list of agencies patrolling the bay includes the FWC, U.S. Coast Guard, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco. Duval recommends that every boater wear a life jacket while their vessels are under way. He said boat operators should also make sure they have required safety equipment, such as flares, VHF or marine radios and fire extinguishers. |
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