[EXPIRED] REMINDER: September Meetings on Anchoring Scheduled in Vero Beach and Bradenton, FL
These two VERY IMPORTANT public meetings were scheduled as outcomes of a public forum on anchoring held in July in Tallahassee, see /?p=143720. Very few cruisers will be in Florida on these dates, but if you are near by, we urge you to attend!
http://myfwc.com/boating/anchoring-mooring/
Thanks to Tom and Mel Neale in East Coast Alerts for sending this additional information:
FWC will be accepting written comments following these meetings. To be notified when this option is available, go here: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLFFWCC/subscriber/new
WHY: In 2009, the Florida Legislature enacted legislation that stopped local governments from placing inconsistent and often onerous anchoring restrictions on anchoring. During the 2014 Florida legislative session Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) saw attempts to repeal part of this prohibition. While these changes were defeated, there will likely be new legislation introduced next year. The Florida Wildlife Commission is holding these two workshops to hear from the public about possibly granting some authority to counties and municipalities to regulate anchoring on state waters.
A discussion draft of possible changes is here: http://myfwc.com/media/2847550/anchoring-public-meeting.pdf
To learn more about the overall issue from FWC’s perspective here: http://myfwc.com/boating/anchoring-mooring/
Additional information on anchoring in Florida: http://www.boatus.com/gov/floridaanchoring.asp
Comments from Cruisers (15)
I was curious so I started looking at some information. I don’t know if this information helps but it looks like the area(s) in question do fall under federal jurisdiction as they have regulations on anchorages listed here: http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title33/33cfr110_main_02.tpl
I’m still looking for any regulations that permit states to write any laws for Navigable waters. I did find something where states can assist USCG in enforcement.
Forgive my ignorance on the subject but: Waters within the ebb and flow of the tide are considered navigable waterways, which fall under federal jurisdiction not state? So it leaves me confused as to where jurisdiction does fall.
The proposal as it stands, particularly the following, (A vessel may not be anchored overnight within 300 feet of waterfront residential property or in a location that restricts use of attached docks or boat lifts.) will severly impact safe navigation through Florida waters.
It will eliminate serveral popular anchorages between Lake Worth and Miami and force cruisers to either make an overnight offshore passage or pay for an expensive slip IF one is available. Changing the minimum distance to 100 feet would be a fair compromise.
It’s not going to stop until the real estate brokers and developers get what they want. No matter how many times they lose, a few campaign contributions in the right pockets will bring it up again. They can lose a hundred times and it won’t matter. They will win the 101st time.
It just never stops!!
Am contacting auth. to request delay until after Dec. 1st.
All concerned parties (esp. currently out of state) should do the same.
Perhaps a friendly atty. might look into this.
WW
Having cruised for several years (including on Florida waters), prior to settling in our Florida water-side home, I see both sides of the argument. Why not acknowledge that the home owners are concerned about “Party Boats with Boom Boxes” as well as derelicts. Do something about those folks. Don’t penalize the legitimate cruiser.
I hope these meeting will take the opportunity to Help make the cruising and liveaboard communities more accessible with better facilities and better anchorage plans . These should include mooring balls and bathrooms with showers .A comprehensive plan for wastewater that would include low cost pumpout and pump out boat that would come to the boat on anchorage weekly . All boat would be required to have holding tanks and vessels that come to the harbor without should be outfitted at low costs .Legislators should seek state and federal money for the programs . Cruising and living aboard should be for all the people not just the elite rich .Make your ports a destination ,an example for addressing the challenges that Florida faces and not just kicking the can down the road.
What, these dummies are trying to pass anchoring rights legislation again? And they want to get reelected, fat chance!
I voted against these id10ts when I lived in Ft Meyers, again from Key west , and Pensacola, Sanford, Tampa and St Petersburg. This BS has been going on for 30 years that I can personally attest to, and probably much longer. Will these dummies ever learn that they are supposed to represent the PEOPLE, not special interest groups. The People elected them to office and it is the PEOPLE they serve.
I have a great idea! Term limits for every position in government, whether elected or civil service; Federal, State, county, and local. A constitutional amendment would make it nation wide. YeeHaa, no more dead weight on the tax payers back. AND outlaw Lobyists also. (ok, I misspelled lobbyist, so what, I misspelled yeehaa also). Now that I think about it, maybe the news media needs a drastic overhaul also.
I love down sizing, now it is their turn!
I know that this is just a dream, the average voter in this country does not even know who or what the vice president is, how sad.
Folks,
Let’s not lose focus here. This is not about “bureaucrats.”
In my estimation this is mostly being driven by waterfront landowners who want to keep the transients at bey. We need to recognize that they believe the “quiet enjoyment” guarantee we sometimes take for granted is being infringed upon.
If you’ve ever done some serious cruising you can recall a special place you discovered. Perhaps a secluded bay on the “other” side of the island that you pulled into and dropped anchor. A perfect sunset was in the making and it was just you and the quiet……and then from the inlet comes the boom boom of a boom box and before you realize it you have a party boat with a captain that chooses to be as close as he/she can to you so you can enjoy their music and drunken excesses ……groan.
Now multiply that by 100 and you have a problem.
Let’s not throw bricks from a distance at some contrived enemy. It is very very important to attend these meetings and hear what is driving this effort……and find ways to respond in a unified way to whatever is presented. Our boating associations and the boating industry should be there to help coordinate responses and develop strategies that go beyond name calling.
Prohibiting anchoring within 300 feet of waterfront property would be a nightmare, essentially preventing anchoring in much of Florida. How would the average boater even be able to measure the distance accurately? Would laser measuring devices be required of all boaters and law enforcement officers. And, how would you know where to measure to? The end of a dock? A piling offshore of the property? The shoreline itself at high tide or low tide? Of course, the law is silly. The question is if it will be passed simply to allow local officials to harass boaters they consider undesirable? What’s next? Laws prohibiting people from parking on public streets within 300 feet of residences? I have no doubt such laws would lose in court.
Larry, We would urge all those that can’t attend to send an email to the Commissioner and voice their displeasure at the need for legislation and the lack of consideration for the timing of the meetings here, myfwc.com/contact/fwc-staff/senior-staff/contact-commissioners/ . Chuck
Well, the Commission has chosen the dates to preclude cruisers even being in Florida to represent themselves! Most insurance companies bar boats from entering Florida until after hurricane season has ended (November 30, in most cases.) So, if you have friends and acquaintances in Florida, it behooves you to lean on them for representation. Otherwise, rent a vehicle and carpool to one of the meetings. I know. This just is more of the same. But, if we let down our guard on this conspiracy, we don’t have recourse at a later date.
Dick Giddings
s/v St. Jude
What! Again? Duhhh….
Here we go again in Florida. What’s with this state? This has been going on for decades now. The possibility of new regulations could eliminate many popular anchorages if enacted. Cruisers that would like to continue to enjoy cruising and anchoring in Florida are urged to attend these meetings and lets give our input. Otherwise we will lose as a boating community…
Chuck Baier
I can’t believe DUHmericans are still at each other’s throats about this. What part of NO don’t bureaucrats seem to understand? Enough already.