Boating safety urged this Memorial Day

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Memorial Day weekend marks the “unofficial” start to summer and many Floridians and visitors are making boating plans. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has a reminder to be smart and safe on the water.

“Enjoy the day by remembering a few safety precautions, such as remaining alert while operating a boat and wearing your life jacket,” said Capt. Tom Shipp of the FWC’s Boating and Waterways Section.

Remember that checklist can save your life. “Check your boating safety equipment and registration before you leave the dock, so you are ready for any problems that might arise on the water,” says Shipp.

According to the FWC, inattentiveness of the operator often contributes to boating accidents and statistics show that more than 60 percent of the 79 boating-related deaths confirmed last year were attributed to drowning. So far this year 18 people have lost their lives in boating accidents in state waters.

“The combination of paying better attention, abiding by the navigation rules and wearing life jackets all the time while on the water could result in fewer injuries and deaths each year,” Shipp said.

Along with boating where you anchor could be a problem. Reef conservation groups are keeping an eye out for boaters anchoring to coral reef.

The Florida Coral Reef Protection Act went into effect in 2009. It provides penalties for anchoring on the coral reefs of south Florida. The recreational diving community has been very effective in bringing violators to justice by supplying FDEP with documentation of illegal anchoring activity.

Through the efforts of local dive boat operators and divers anchoring in coral has been nearly eliminated in Palm Beach County. In the past year FDEP has issued dozens of warning letters and fined many repeat offenders using the information supplied to them by divers.

To report a boat anchored in coral you need, reef rescue says:

• To be positive it is anchored on the reef.
• Vessel registration numbers and vessel description.
• Date, time, water depth and GPS coordinates of the anchored boat.
• A photo of the vessel, preferably with the shoreline in the background.
• You can also provide, though not absolutely necessary, a photo of the boat’s anchor embedded in the reef.

For more boating safety information, visit MyFWC.com/Boating .

Information provided by FWC