New Rules for Fishing Reef Species in Gulf - Charlotte County ...

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Page 4 The Lateral Line Volume 2, Issue 2 Clean Marinas in Charlotte County With the second largest coastline in America (after Alaska), Florida has more registered boaters and marine facilities than any other state. Over 800,000 boats are registered in Florida, with an additional 400,000 boats estimated to visit the state annually. Nearly 2000 marinas and boatyards service these boaters. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Florida Sea Grant, Marine Industry Association of Florida, and U.S. Coast Guard formed the Clean Boating Partnership to help sustain and protect Florida’s coastal resources. As part of the program, marinas and boatyards can be certified as a Florida Clean Marina or Boatyard by voluntarily adopting extra procedures to eliminate water pollution at their facility. Once certified, patrons know these facilities go the extra mile to protect local water quality. Designated facilities provide pumpouts for sewage disposal, prevent spills during fueling, and provide recycling or disposal for oil, batteries, lights, switches, and other hazardous materials. Additionally, these facilities educate boaters on how to protect the environment while boating. Who are our Clean Marinas Palm Island Marina, 2006 Fishermen’s Village Marina, 2007 Laishley Marina, 2007 Isles Yacht Club, 2008 MarineMax of Cape Haze, 2006 is a Clean Boatyard & Clean Marine Retailer Boating Accident Stats from 2007 2007 marked a slight increase in terms of the number of boating accidents reported. 668 accidents in 2007 compared to 671 in 2006 and a high of 1,159 in 1999. The top causes of accidents: operator inattention, no proper look-out, excessive speed, and carelessness/inattention. Source: FWCC Law Enforcement 2007 Reportable boating accidents. County Recreational Vessels Total Vessels Reported Accidents Fatalities Injuries Property Damage Statewide Rank Monroe 25,370 28,235 74 4 35 $1,489,795 1 Miami-Dade 59,651 62,324 67 13 30 $809,975 2 Palm Beach 42,968 44,416 52 5 34 $2,310,480 3 Pinellas 54,315 56,386 50 4 22 $559,243 4 Broward 38,863 40,407 23 1 9 $164,500 5 Lee 49,095 50,642 32 5 20 $331,800 6 Volusia 30,884 31,891 25 0 13 $93,100 7 Duval 33,630 34,494 23 1 11 $263,867 8 Brevard 38,863 40,407 23 1 9 $164,500 9 Collier 23,504 24,458 18 5 10 $258,300 10 Charlotte 21,918 22,613 8 0 6 $24,500 Not Ranked
The Lateral Line Volume 2, Issue 2 Page 5 RWMS (cont. from pg 2) from a distance. Sometimes, however, they need to get in close to read the registration numbers, especially when boats are oriented with bows toward a sea wall. Two of our research vessels, a 17 foot Key West center console fishing boat and a 13 foot Boston Whaler Sport, display University of Florida and Florida Sea Grant logo decals. On occasion, the crews also volunteer use of their own boats, which are not so marked. Kids Cup Redfish Tracking (cont. from pg 3) All of the information collected (dart & sonic tag) is coming back to you via this website designed by Sea Grant Extension with support from Charlotte County GIS. Every angler that weighed a redfish in is listed. The website interactive map displays the area of Charlotte Harbor where a kid’s fish was caught, the release location (Harpoon Harry’s), and recorded fish movement in a time series loop which is being updated as data is received. The data link allows users to see a listing of recorded movements thus allowing users to conduct their own research. To Follow a Kids Cup Fish: http:// charlotte.ifas.ufl.edu/ kidscup/index.html Need Some Local Knowledge— Call us and ask for a FREE Boaters Guide! Rip Currents...Don’t Let Them Catch You Rip currents, often mistakenly called undertows, can pull even the most experienced swimmers from shore. Rip currents are formed when water is forced through a narrow path causing it to rush out to sea. Rip currents are frequently seen around jetties, groins, and other barriers, and can extend 1,000 feet offshore, reaching widths of 100 feet and speeds of up to 3 miles per hour. Some rip currents are present only a few hours; others are permanent. Telltale Signs of Rip Currents: • A noticeable difference in water color (either murkier or darker) • A difference in waves (larger, choppier waves in the rip current; smaller, calmer waves in front of the bar) • Foam or objects moving steadily seaward • An offshore plume of turbid water past the sandbars. What To Do: If you find yourself caught in a rip current, most importantly, Don’t Panic. Never swim against a rip current. Instead, swim parallel to shore until you are out of the current. Rip currents are rarely more than 30 feet wide. If you can’t break free of the rip current, float calmly until the current dissipates, usually just beyond the breakers. Once free, swim diagonally to shore. Rip currents can be killers, so be safe, be smart, and know what to do. “Never swim against a rip current. Instead, swim parallel to shore until you are out of the current.” Rip Current
Page 1 and 2: May-Aug 2008 Volume 2, Issue 2 Char
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