12-08-2009, 12:10 PM
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will soon begin removing, repairing, cleaning and installing waterway markers in Volusia County and a small portion of southern Flagler County. The work on markers for state-adopted manatee protection and boating safety zones will begin in mid-November. The FWC expects to finish the work by the end of the February 2010.
"We want to slow down boat traffic in areas where vessel congestion occurs and manatees congregate, to protect the safety of the boating public and manatees," said Capt. Chris Roszkowiak of the FWC's Division of Law Enforcement. "The new waterway markers will vastly improve boaters' understanding of the zones."
The FWC is replacing signs damaged during storms, deteriorated from age or in disrepair due to vandalism. The work also includes the removal of unpermitted or illegal signs, which add to operator confusion and make the state zones unenforceable. In addition, signs that display an incorrect regulation will be replaced, and some markers will be relocated in and around the state-adopted manatee protection and boating safety zones.
"Missing and damaged signs have made the laws unenforceable and officers have only been issuing warnings," Roszkowiak said. "After completion of the project and an education period, officers will begin issuing citations for violations within the manatee protection and boating safety zones."
Visit www.MyFWC.com/Boating to access state manatee protection and boating safety regulations and maps.
Media Contact
Dawn Griffin, 850-488-5600
"We want to slow down boat traffic in areas where vessel congestion occurs and manatees congregate, to protect the safety of the boating public and manatees," said Capt. Chris Roszkowiak of the FWC's Division of Law Enforcement. "The new waterway markers will vastly improve boaters' understanding of the zones."
The FWC is replacing signs damaged during storms, deteriorated from age or in disrepair due to vandalism. The work also includes the removal of unpermitted or illegal signs, which add to operator confusion and make the state zones unenforceable. In addition, signs that display an incorrect regulation will be replaced, and some markers will be relocated in and around the state-adopted manatee protection and boating safety zones.
"Missing and damaged signs have made the laws unenforceable and officers have only been issuing warnings," Roszkowiak said. "After completion of the project and an education period, officers will begin issuing citations for violations within the manatee protection and boating safety zones."
Visit www.MyFWC.com/Boating to access state manatee protection and boating safety regulations and maps.
Media Contact
Dawn Griffin, 850-488-5600