Along with JSO, USFWS and FWC agents and officers, numerous federal, state and local marine units from the area will participate in the enforcement effort to not only patrol the manatee protection zones but address other legal requirements on the water, as well. 

The federal manatee protection zones and regulations may be found online at www.fws.gov/northflorida/Manatee/Documents/MPARules/index-federal-mpa-maps.htm.

Those areas designated as protected pursuant to the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act may be found at MyFWC.com/Manatee (click on “Data & Maps”).

In those areas where the federal and state zones are not identical, the more restrictive zone takes precedence. The online 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 throughout the designated areas in Duval, Clay and St. Johns counties to mark the regulated zones.

Manatee zone boundaries are marked by large, posted signs and buoys; both are white in color with international orange lettering.

Federal and state 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 and are enforced utilizing radar units.

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 of coming up on or coming off of plane, or creating an excessive 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 are based upon the attitude of the vessel. Idle speed is considered to be enough forward momentum to maintain steerage of a vessel.

Federal fines range from $125 for a first offense up to $25,000 and/or six months imprisonment under the Endangered Species Act. The fines increase for each subsequent violation of any state or federal manatee zone throughout the state.

State data indicate manatee mortalities related to watercraft strikes continue to be a concern in Clay, Duval and St. Johns counties, as shown in the table below.

Voluntary compliance is a win-win for boaters and for Florida manatees, providing for safe passage for both through Florida’s waterways.

Enforcement questions regarding the various zones may be directed to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement at 352-429-1037, or you may contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 386-758-0525.

The USFWS 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 website at www.fws.gov.

The zones are the product of the FWC and the counties responding to boater concerns about safety on the river. Each county that borders the river has created an ordinance to support these new zones.

The five zones are:

• At the confluence of the Santa Fe and Ichetucknee rivers (Columbia, Suwannee and Gilchrist counties);
• The U.S. Highway 129 bridge and Guy Lemmon Park boat ramp (Suwannee and Gilchrist counties);
• At the Sandy Point boat ramp (Suwannee and Gilchrist counties);
• Ellie Ray’s boat ramp (Suwannee and Gilchrist counties);
• Butler Landing boat ramp and the confluence of the Santa Fe and Suwannee rivers (Lafayette, Gilchrist and Suwannee counties).

Signs have been posted on the river, marking the beginning and ending of each zone, according to FWC Capt. Martin Redmond, area supervisor.

“This is to improve boating safety on the river,” Redmond said. “The public has expressed concerns about the heavy boating traffic in these areas and the speed at which some boaters are traveling through these congested areas, especially in the areas where boaters congregate or are trying to load and unload their boats. We worked with the counties involved to attempt to resolve these safety concerns, using the minimum amount of regulation necessary.”

Not adhering to the new zones will be a boating infraction that comes with a $50 fine.

“We will be working diligently to educate boaters about these five new zones,” Redmond said. “We will be handing out informational brochures showing the zones and providing a reference for boaters to make sure they understand what the law requires when operating in a slow-speed, minimum-wake zone. Boats must be off plane, fully settled in the water and moving at a speed that makes little or no wake.”

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) law enforcement officers will be conducting a special operation called “Wave the Flag” on Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20. The goal of this effort is to raise “divers-down” flag awareness for both divers and boaters.

FWC officers will use laser radar units to measure the distance between boaters and divers. They will then pursue violators. Last year, the operation, which was in Broward County, resulted in 12 citations and 30 written warnings.

This year’s Wave the Flag operation will extend into Palm Beach, Broward, Dade and Monroe counties. Local coastal police departments, sheriff’s offices and officers with the U.S. Coast Guard will join the FWC in this two-day operation.

“The FWC wants to make sure that 2012 is a safe year for both divers and snorkelers,” said Lt. David Bingham. “We want to remind divers that they must properly display a dive flag, and boaters must steer clear of divers.” 

While on the water, divers and boaters need to remember the following rules regarding dive flags:

• Divers-down flags displayed on vessels must be at least 20 inches by 24 inches, and a stiffener is required to keep the flag unfurled. Dive flags carried on floats must be at least 12 inches by 12 inches. Also, divers-down flags on vessels must be displayed above the vessel’s highest point so that the flag’s visibility is not obstructed in any direction.
• Divers must make reasonable efforts to stay within 300 feet of a divers-down flag on open waters and within 100 feet of a flag within rivers, inlets or navigation channels.
• Vessel operators must make a reasonable effort to maintain a distance of at least 300 feet from divers-down flags on open waters and at least 100 feet from flags on rivers, inlets or navigation channels. Vessels approaching divers-down flags closer than 300 feet in open water and 100 feet in rivers, inlets and navigation channels must slow to idle speed.
• When divers are out of the water, a dive flag must not be displayed.

The media are invited to cover operation Wave the Flag and join a ride-along with FWC officers involved in the event. Contact Carli Segelson to set up a ride-along.

For more information on boating regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Boating and click on “Boating Regulations.”

“Florida is a great place to enjoy boating year-round,” said Col. Jim Brown, director of the FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement. “That weekend marks the unofficial beginning of summer and means even more people will be out on the water. National Safe Boating Week (May 19-25) also presents an opportunity to emphasize the importance of remaining safe while boating.”

Memorial Day weekend is May 26-28.

The safe-boating effort is timely, as 10 people have already lost their lives this year due to boating accidents.

“We want to reach out to as many boaters as we can to help them understand that most boating accidents are preventable,” Brown said. “FWC officers are committed to keeping people as safe as possible, but we need your help.”

The FWC reminds boaters to enjoy their time on the water by remembering a few safety precautions, such as remaining alert while operating a boat, wearing a life jacket at all times and designating a sober boat operator.

According to the FWC, inattentiveness of the operator often contributes to boating accidents, and statistics show that more than 64 percent of the 66 boating-related deaths confirmed last year were attributed to drowning.

The wide variety of comfortable, affordable and stylish life jackets on the market today offers all boaters the protection they need.

“Boating smart and safely could result in fewer injuries and deaths each year,” Brown said.

More information can be found by visiting MyFWC.com/Boating.

Nicole Lee Aspinwall (DOB 10/03/81) was with Robert Joseph Miller (DOB 10/22/75) and her children, Tyler Eversoll (DOB 01/12/97) and Hailey Dickens (DOB 05/30/01), according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) investigators.

The four were parked on the dry riverbed at the Rutland flats off the Withlacoochee River. The airboat wasn’t running. At about 1:30 p.m., Miller cranked the motor, thinking that Aspinwall was getting into the vessel. However, she was at the left rear corner of the vessel, believed to be reaching into the transom area of the airboat to retrieve something she saw in the back there, FWC investigators said. 

Aspinwall was struck by the airboat’s three-blade propeller, causing life-threatening injuries.

She was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital and admitted.

FWC officials are investigating the accident.

Christopher Jordan Marlo (DOB 09/18/80), sustained non-life-threatening injuries, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) investigators.

Marlo was operating the 14-foot johnboat that belonged to his passenger, John Garrett Cobb (DOB 06/05/75) of Cross City. They were just south of Rock Bluff near the County Road 340 bridge. The two had been fishing and were headed back to the Gornto Springs boat ramp, where they had launched at 7 a.m.

According to investigators, the two were traveling about 10 to 15 mph. At about 10:30 a.m., a sturgeon jumped up in front of the vessel, striking Marlo. Neither man saw the fish. However, Cobb reported he saw something splash off the right side of the boat and the boat turned hard to the right. He looked back to see Marlo slumped over the left side of the vessel. Cobb got Marlo back into the boat and went to the Rock Bluff boat ramp, according to FWC investigators.

Marlo was transported to Shands Hospital in Gainesville by emergency medical personnel. The sturgeon strike was reported to the FWC by the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office, and an investigation into the incident began.

“This is first sturgeon strike in 2012,” said Maj. Roy Brown, regional commander of the FWC’s North Central Region. “And that’s one too many.”

Brown explained, “We certainly don’t want to scare anyone off the river. The Suwannee is beautiful and we want folks to come out and enjoy their trip. We just want to remind boaters the sturgeon are back in the Suwannee and they are jumping.”

In 2006, FWC officials began working on a public awareness campaign to alert boaters to the risks of jumping sturgeon.

“We have posted signs at each boat ramp along the Suwannee, explaining the risk of impacts with these fish, and we have just recently posted larger signs, warning of jumping sturgeon, along the river,” Brown said. “Our officers increase their water patrol efforts during the summer months in a continued effort to educate boaters about boating safety and sturgeon.”

What’s the best course of action for avoiding a collision?

“We recommend boaters reduce their speed to reduce the risk of impact and to give people more time to react if they do encounter a jumping sturgeon,” Brown said. “The FWC also recommends that all boaters wear their life jackets.”

The Suwannee River appears to support the largest viable population of Gulf sturgeon. Biologists estimate the annual population at 10,000-14,000 fish, averaging approximately 40 pounds each. Adult fish spend eight to nine months each year in the river spawning and three to four of the coolest months in Gulf waters.

Biologists are unsure why sturgeon jump. Two theories are that the fish jump to communicate or as a dominance display.

“I have seen these collisions referred to as ‘attacks.’ However, these fish are in no way attacking when they jump. They are simply doing what they have been doing for millions of years: jumping. They aren’t targeting the boaters,” Brown said.

Gulf sturgeon can get quite big, exceeding 8 feet and 200 pounds.

“They have five rows of rock-hard scutes along their sides, back and belly. When sturgeon and boaters collide, the results can be devastating,” Brown said.

State and federal laws protect sturgeon, just like bald eagles, panthers and sea turtles.

“These fish may not be harvested,” Brown said.

To report sturgeon collisions, call 888-404-FWCC (3922).

Sarasota, along with Stuart/Martin County, Monroe County (Marathon and Key West), St. Augustine and St. Petersburg, was chosen as a site for a legislatively directed anchoring and mooring pilot program.

The goal of the program is to explore potential options for regulating the anchoring or mooring of non-live-aboard vessels outside the boundaries of public mooring fields. Among other things, this should help promote public access to Florida’s waters, enhance navigational safety and protect the marine environment.

The local government for each participant site is responsible for soliciting public input for its ordinance development process. The city of Sarasota held public input meetings to gather suggestions and information on local problems related to anchoring and mooring in the area.

The FWC’s role is to provide consultation and technical assistance. The Sarasota ordinance has been posted at MyFWC.com/Boating (click on “Anchoring & Mooring”). Members of the public are asked to provide comments through May 16. For more information on the pilot program, visit MyFWC.com/Boating (click on “Anchoring & Mooring”) or call 850-488-5600.

On Wednesday in Crystal River the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved, with one contingency, the city of St. Petersburg’s proposed boating ordinance for the anchoring and mooring pilot program coordinated by the FWC.

Local governments for the five communities participating in the pilot program are responsible for soliciting public input and adopting local ordinances within their jurisdictions. These ordinances must be approved by the FWC and will continue to be evaluated by the FWC and the Legislature. Since June 2011, when the final participant was selected for the program, FWC staff has been attending the sites’ public-input meetings to provide information on the pilot program.

“The city of St. Petersburg’s ordinance addresses local issues related to anchoring and mooring in the area, such as navigational safety, protecting marine infrastructure, promoting public access and deterring improperly stored, abandoned or derelict vessels,” said Maj. Jack Daugherty, leader of the FWC’s Boating and Waterways Section. “It also specifies penalties for violating the regulations.”

The ordinance prohibits hazardous vessels from anchoring in city of St. Petersburg waterways and prohibits any vessel from anchoring in a manner that would cause a navigational hazard or interfere with other vessels. It also restricts any vessel from anchoring within 200 feet of any marina or any publicly owned boat ramp. Anchoring is also prohibited in the Port of St. Petersburg, Central Yacht Basin and South Yacht Basin.

Commissioners discussed, asked questions and heard public comment, ultimately approving the ordinance with the contingency suggested by staff that no vessel shall anchor in Bayboro Harbor for more than 10 days out of any 30-day period. With this approval, the city can make the required changes and adopt the ordinance to make it effective. All ordinances adopted under the pilot program expire on July 1, 2014, unless re-enacted by the Legislature.

Public meetings have also been held in the other four participant sites: Monroe County, in coordination with the cities of Marathon and Key West; Stuart, in coordination with Martin County; and the city of Sarasota. The ordinances for St. Augustine have already been approved, and the developing ordinances from the remaining areas will be presented at future Commission meetings.

The goal of the anchoring and mooring pilot program is to explore potential options for regulating the anchoring or mooring of non-live-aboard vessels outside the boundaries of public mooring fields. The FWC’s role is to provide consultation and technical assistance on the issues. For more information on the pilot program, visit MyFWC.com/Boating or call 850-488-5600.

The FWC officer’s nomination was based on his initiative, dedication to service, strong work ethic, consistency and overall job performance.

“Although he wasn’t selected as the statewide FWC award recipient, it’s still a testimony to his hard work to be chosen as the region’s top officer,” said Maj. Roy Brown, regional commander for the FWC’s North Central Region, based out of Lake City.

Creech began his career with FWC in 2002 and was assigned to Volusia County before transferring to Hamilton County in 2007.

“Officer Creech has done an excellent job in the North Central Region for several years now,” said Brown. “He has demonstrated the ability, time and time again, to take a small amount of information and follow it through to a successful conclusion, resulting in a very high arrest and conviction rate that has made him an exceptional officer.”

Creech is assigned to a rural county with a relatively low population. An officer must establish excellent local contacts to be successful. Creech’s overall activity of numerous resource violations and boating violations is proof that he has built the rapport needed. That rapport, coupled with a strong work ethic, is why he has been very successful, according to Brown.

His performance has been exceptional this year, with cases involving duck hunters with unplugged shotguns, using lead shot; people taking deer at night with gun and light; trespassing; taking freshwater game fish with a spear gun; boating under the influence; keeping undersized black bass; driving under the influence; illegally taking alligator; and other resources violations.

Creech has established himself within his county as a hard-working professional law enforcement officer. He has earned the respect of his co-workers, supervisors, the constituents he serves and the judicial system. He has also earned a reputation of being an officer of integrity.

Creech also demonstrates a spirit of volunteerism in his off-time, serving with the Army National Guard. He has deployed several times.

“His sacrifice to serve this great land of ours preserves the freedoms and rights we enjoy. He has proved to be a valuable asset to his country, the FWC and the constituents that he so proudly serves,” Brown said. “We proudly nominated him for the 2012 Officer of the Year.”

The Florida Guides Association and Florida Keys Commercial Fishing Association on Wednesday honored three employees of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for their efforts to conserve marine life.

Bill Kelly, executive director of the Florida Keys Commercial Fishing Association, recognized Jackie Fauls, with the FWC’s Office of Legislative Affairs. Fauls and the FWC partnered with the Keys group, Organized Fishermen of Florida, Monroe County State’s Attorney, House and Senate sponsors and the Governor’s Office to combat trap robbing and to develop solutions.

Capt. Pat Kelly, Florida Guides Association president, presented FWC Officer Randy Hart with the “Trained Eyes Coastwatchers” Officer of the Year award.

“Officer Hart is a dedicated, proactive officer,” said FWC Lt. Ed Prouty, Hart’s supervisor. “His desire to protect Florida’s fish and wildlife is outstanding.”

Hart recently exceeded his required vessel patrol hours while targeting illegal fishing activities, trap robbing and other violations and boating accidents.

“Officer Hart should be really proud,” Kelly said. “He’s one of the best.”

Also at the meeting, the Florida Guides Association presented Bob Muller, a biologist with the FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI), with the Capt. Phil Chapman Conservation Award.

“Muller has devoted countless behind-the-scenes hours to fisheries stock assessments,” Kelly said. “He is an absolute unsung hero, but his work results are vital to the resources of the state of Florida.”

Muller started the stock assessment group for the research arm of the agency more than 20 years ago. His work on assessments of snook, spotted seatrout, stone crab and a variety of other species has contributed greatly to the conservation of Florida’s fish stocks.

“Bob’s enthusiastic and thorough approach to his work is well-known by his colleagues,” said Mike Murphy, Muller’s supervisor. “His inquisitive nature and willingness to share his knowledge with others have made him a valuable part of FWRI.”