Notice that the inspections Captains Bob and Judy describe below are taking place at MARINAS. I would bet there are also cruising craft being stopped while underway as well.

According to today’s issue of Florida Today newspaper [4/26/10], over the weekend the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) launched onboard inspections of sanitation systems of live-aboard boats in marinas and boats on the ICW. Over the weekend they inspected boats in marinas on Merritt Island, Melbourne and Vero Beach. The operation is going to continue until Friday (April 30th).
Bob McLeran and Judy Young

I had the experience personally yesterday. Went to Sanderling to do a little work after posting the article to this list. The young FWC officer had no idea that only a few places in Florida are no discharge
zones (he’d spent most of his short career in the Keys, which IS a NDZ) and he’d never heard of a Lectrasan/Electrascan. I proceeded to provide a modest amount of education, he called his supervisor and confirmed that his new teacher was correct. Very receptive, courteous, not an issue. Got a receipt from him that Sanderling was in compliance.
A friend in another marina where sanitation inspections were taking place yesterday told me that the FWC officers were taking “samples” from the Lectrasan boats for testing. How they did that I’m not sure, but I’d never take either of my Lectrasans apart to allow a sample to be taken, nor would I break the overboard line for that purpose (there are couplings to do so. If the FWC officer wanted to get into the engine room to do it, with the assurance that they’d be responsible for any damage, I’d CONSIDER letting them do so!
We’ve been boarded several times by water cops (local sheriffs or FWC officers) for sanitation inspections and when we’d tell them we had 2 heads and 2 Lectrasans they all said “thanks” and departed!
Bob McLeran and Judy Young

We were boarded in Vero Beach mooring field shortly after arriving on Saturday and the dye test was done. Then again on Sunday when we were on the ICW heading to Cocoa, the same two officers came up to our boat but recognized us and laughed and said didn’t we check you yesterday? Just doing their job.
Capt. RL & Karen
s/v Last Call

How are they treating boats with Porta potties and pump out systems that are legal? Also how are they dealing with wag Bag owners/
Thanks
geneWj