DERELICT VESSEL REMOVAL GRANT 2018-2019 OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is announcing the first opportunity to apply for Derelict Vessel Removal Grants for the 2018/2019 budget year.  The application period for the Bulk Derelict Vessel Removal Grant Program will begin on September 3, 2018, at 8:00 AM (EST), and end on October 17, 2018, at 5:00 PM (EST). Applications received after October 17, 2018, will not be eligible for consideration in round one. All removal applications must be complete and authorized for removal in the Statewide Derelict Vessel Database as well as demonstrate proof that due process was provided for each vessel’s owner. At a minimum, this would include an opportunity for the vessel owner to challenge the derelict vessel determination, either in criminal court or in an administrative hearing. Vessel cases not demonstrating that these opportunities have been offered to the owners of the vessels will not be considered for state funding assistance. A Letter of Authorization to remove and dispose of the vessel, issued by a law enforcement agency must be included in the application. Should funding be available for a second or subsequent round of applications, new announcements will be made.  The grant guidelines and application form may be downloaded at: http://www.MyFWC.com/DVGrant.  

You may also receive the guidelines and application by contacting Phil Horning at (850) 617-9540 or email DVGrant@MyFWC.com. 

Applications that meet the requirements for the Rapid Removal Grant Program may be submitted at any time after the opportunity announcement start date, but no later than November 23,2019, at 5:00pm (EST) (based on available funding). Rapid removal cases must meet requirements of published guidelines as well as due process requirements.  Total funding allocated for derelict vessel removal for fiscal year 2018-2019 was $1,000,000. Applications may be mailed to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Boating and Waterways Section, Derelict Vessel Grant Program Administrator, at 620 S. Meridian Street – Room 235, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600 or emailed to DVGrant@MyFWC.com.

For further information, please contact:

Phil Horning, Derelict Vessel Program Administrator, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Division of Law Enforcement, Boating and Waterways Section, (850) 617-9540 or email Phil.Horning@MyFWC.com

With the release of the 2017 Boating Accident Statistical Report, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) encourages boaters to focus on simple, effective steps that make boating safer.

2017 boating accident statistics provide an opportunity for boating safety reminders

Here’s a free update from Navionics for boaters who assist in re-charting the Keys. Fun and Profit all in one offer!

Wanted: Your Help With Post-Irma Chart Updates from Florida Sportsman Editor

Our thanks to Danny Munson for recommending this app, https://www.wakewatch.com/.

Don’t you wish everyone would use and respect those safety limits!

There is an app called WakeWatch that maps out all of the no wake zones in FL. It also tells what type of zone – i.e. slow speed minimum wake, no wake, speed limits, etc. with the associated time restrictions. It also has all of the bridge heights and opening schedules.

Stick on a decal to show support for Florida’s manatees, sea turtles

There are more manatees and sea turtles in Florida than in any other state. More than 6,000 manatees swim in its coastal waters, rivers and freshwater springs, and thousands of sea turtles nest and hatch on its Atlantic and Gulf coast beaches.

It’s easy to show support for these iconic Florida species by sticking on a decal.

Every July the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) introduces new manatee and sea turtle decals available with a $5 donation.

The colorful, waterproof decals are designed to look great on a vehicle’s bumper or the side of a boat. Get them when registering or re-registering a vehicle or boat at local tax collectors’ offices across the state.

“Florida is home to more manatees and sea turtles than anywhere else in the U.S.,” said Carol Knox, who leads the FWC’s Imperiled Species Management Section. “Public support has been critical in helping us conserve these imperiled species. So please ‘stick on a decal’ and show support for our manatees and sea turtles.” 

Decals generate funding for research, rescue and management efforts that help Florida’s manatees and sea turtles survive. For instance, when someone calls the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) to report an injured, entangled or sick manatee or sea turtle, FWC staff responds with efforts to rescue and rehabilitate the animal.

The decals also address important conservation issues:

• “Look out for manatees” is the message on the new manatee decal, which shows boaters in the distance as a manatee mother and calf swim along with only her back above water.When boating or using a personal watercraft in Florida waters, it is important to look out for manatees. Mature manatees grow to 1,000 pounds or more, but can be difficult to see when they’re swimming, grazing or resting underwater. Wear polarized sunglasses, and then watch and listen carefully to detect the signs of manatees nearby. Look for circles on the water’s surface indicating their underwater movement and snouts sticking out of the water as they surface to breathe. You may also hear huffing noises when they come up for air.
• “Helping sea turtles survive” is the message on the new sea turtle decal, which shows a green sea turtle. Green sea turtles nest on Florida’s Atlantic and Gulf coast beaches, and until recently were classified as endangered. Now after years of conservation efforts, the number of nesting green turtles has increased substantially. This species has been reclassified as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. That’s a major step in “green” recovery. Remember, “Hands off” is the best policy for beachgoers encountering any species of nesting or hatchling sea turtles. Watch from a distance, do not disturb them and never use a cellphone or camera to shoot flash photos.

Learn about other ways to help conserve manatees and sea turtles at MyFWC.com/Manatee andMyFWC.com/SeaTurtle, where you also can click on “Decals” to order new or past editions of decals. Go to BuyaPlate.com to purchase a “Save the Manatee” or “Helping Sea Turtles Survive” license plate that supports those species.

Our thanks to Mike Bodin of Marine Trawler Owners Association for this updated perspective on Florida’s anchoring restrictions. See Florida Wildlife and Fish Commission Proposed Anchoring Program. See link below to donate to these lobbying efforts.

Florida’s Anchoring Program Update 1/30/17 MTOA
Boaters’ rights to anchor in public waterways are under attack again in Florida. SSCA, MTOA,
and AGLCA, are raising money to fund a professional lobbyist to defend our rights. The
lobbyist team Capitol Access, Tallahassee, is now representing boaters from unjustified
regulations. Help us to stop the attack on Florida’s anchorage areas. Please donate TODAY:

www.mtoa.net “BOATERS’ RIGHTS FUND”  {Note: Click on Chart below Boaters’ Rights Fund, then ignore Log In to Contribute and go directly to name/address form.}

Many wealthy Florida waterside residents, condominium units and cities complained to their local
governments about anchoring boats spoiling their water views. Federal government owns the land
under waterways and relinquished semi-control to Florida state. This anti-anchoring consortium
contacted their state representatives to change the law to prohibit anchoring in front of their
waterside property
Florida enacted a study called Anchoring and Mooring Pilot Program in 2009. The study is to be
completed July 1, 2017. Final recommendations to be submitted by January 1, 2018. The multi-million
dollar 244-page report is available for review. “Anchoring and Mooring Pilot Program Final Report of
Findings and Recommendations 12/21/2016” in Adobe PDF. During last year’s legislative season the
report was accepted as submitted. 2017 is the final year. Florida legislature has stated they will accept
the state recommendations for state law. The report has several anti-anchoring provisions that must
be changed to better represent the needs of the boating community. One glaring item of concern; If
enacted, county governments can easily contact the state for an exemption to control and regulate
local anchoring without any input from the boating community. The unintended consequence of the
legislation would be the precedent it would set for other states along the eastern seaboard to follow
banning anchoring.
A large “AHOY MATE” call is now being made to fellow boaters. As a boating community, we can be
complacent, stand back and complain when our previously used anchoring areas are no longer
available or put on some heavy weather gear and ride the storm out while still keeping the heading.
This will ensure future anchorage availability for us and our children. How is this accomplished? As any
boater knows you must have the right gear. 1) We need a knowledgeable professional lobbyist. 2)
Money is required for this lobbyist: $35k, 3) How do we get the funds? The boating community unites
and individual boaters to donate as they can. Marine Trawler Owners Association (MTOA) has engaged
the services of Capitol Access, an outstanding lobbying firm with offices in Tallahassee to represent all
boaters interest from unjustified regulation upon the waterways., Today combined funds from
members of American Great Loop Cruising Association (AGLCA), and Seven Seas Cruising Association
(SSCA) are assisting with contributions from their membership. Additional funds are required to
continue a pro- anchoring strategy to roll back unjustified regulation of anti-anchoring language in the
proposed bill. Your support is requested. Marine Trawlers Owners Association has set up the following
site for your donations from the boating community at large: Go to:
www.mtoa.net highlight tab “FL Anchoring Rights Fund”
We need your financial support. The following is a time progression review demonstrating the need
for a professional lobbyists and active boater participation to win the pro-anchoring debate.
2017
2016 over whelming defeat for pro-anchoring advocates required a change in tactics for boaters right
to anchor. MTOA closely reviewed the situation and with board consensus agreed a professional
Lobbyists was required to prevent 2016 outcome for the 2107 legislative season.
We have now finalized the engagement and compliance registrations for our lobbyist in the Capitol
(Jerry Paul of Capitol Access). As you may know, Jerry is a member of MTOA, SSCA, AGLCA and DeFever
Cruisers. He is an active cruiser, a former marine engineer, merchant mariner, attorney and former
elected member of the Florida Legislature. He lead our successful efforts in Tallahassee 2 years ago
under the lead of SSCA.
This year MTOA is the lead client and coordinator working closely with Jerry. Special thanks to SSCA
and AGLCA for joining the team and for providing additional funding support for the effort. Thank you
also for the contributions by members of our organizations and others such as the DeFever Cruisers.
We are up and running. Jerry is in communication with key legislators who will be involved in this
process throughout Florida’s Annual 60-day Legislative Session which begins on March 7. There are 3
remaining “Committee Weeks” that will occur prior to March 7 during which legislators will be filing
bills and even holding hearings in preparation for the regular session.
Through the counsel of our lobbyist, we will apply the approach that worked well when we were last
organized a couple of sessions ago. For example, he will keep us updated regularly as he collects
information. Through him we will coordinate effective messaging (some wholesale and some retail)
that leverages our vast number of cruisers and the merits of our position. But, it is important that we
maintain control of the message. It needs to be tailored to the specific issues that are critical to the
moment as legislation makes its way through multiple committees comprised of different elected
members (and staff), each with unique perspectives. Our messaging must be respectful and
professional. Finally, it must be timed precisely and targeted surgically in varying ways (email, phone,
and even personal appearances in Committees). This is a running process so timing is important. Mike
Bodin, MTOA, Public Advocate will be coordinating these activities.
So far, it appears as though there will be a bill filed that implements some of the recommendations of
the Report by the FWC (Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission) which was prepared to summarize the
results of the Anchoring and Mooring Pilot Project that expires this year. This is the report that was
recently heard by the Senate Environment Committee (the committee that originated the language a
couple years ago, that including certain anchoring bans). A draft of the bill is not yet available. We are
in communication with the key likely sponsors and we’re already messaging our opposition to such
bans. So far, it appears we have some key members who associate with our view. We are hopeful that
the initial draft(s) will not include the adverse provisions. If it does, we will work to get it removed. If it
does not, we must be vigilant until the end of the Session to ensure that the adverse language does not
get amended into it.
We will report on these developments and follow up with effective calls-to-action by our members and
all who share our desire to preserve Florida’s rich maritime history of freedom to safely anchor
throughout the public’s coastal waters of the State
2016 REVIEW
Yeas, represent the Anti- Anchoring votes by the committees and legislature:
1/26/16 House Committee Vote yeas 12 Nays 0
2/25/16 House Committee Vote yeas 15 Nays 1 Note: Extreme spread
3/04/16 House Vote yeas 105 Nays 12
3/0716 Senate Vote yeas 36 Nays 2
3/09/16 Signed by officers and presented to Governor HJ 980
3/24/16 Approved and signed by Florida’s Governor Rick Scott (chapter 2016-96)
7/01/16 Effective Date for state law banning anchoring by county designation. The state law banned
overnight anchoring within areas of Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
Once it was seen there was no opposition from pro- anchoring groups, anti-anchoring legislation
emerged and gathered enough momentum to easily pass. Do not underestimate the extent to which
that momentum is perceived to still exist in Tallahassee. It was quite evident at the Senate
Environment Committee (the Committee that originated the bill we defeated 2 years ago). Notice that
this Committee chose to place the topic on its agenda early in the process. The cruising/anchoring
interests have been unrepresented for a while and that has been noticed.
Note: The boating community was complacent. No Lobbyists, No boating community involvement.
Capitol Access was not retained.
2015 REVIEW
No set back or anchoring restrictions—Capitol Access, Active Lobbyists, Active boating community
2014-2012 REVIEW
No set back or anchoring restrictions—Capitol Access, Active Lobbyists, Active boating community
It can plainly be observed if boaters are again complacent in 2017, the 2016 results can be expected.
We salute such groups as American Great Loop Cruising Association, Seven Seas Cruising Association,
Marine Trawler Owners Association, and DeFever Cruisers for their active and financial support. These
great organizations have started the process. Now your financial support is needed to continue.
Donation site www.mtoa.net highlight tab

Mike Bodin
MTOA Public Advocate