The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is rolling out an initiative to assist in the derelict boat removal process for some municipalities.
At a September meeting, FWC commissioners approved rule amendments creating a block grant option within the FWC derelict vessel and public nuisance vessel removal grant program.
The FWC Boating and Waterways Section proposed the option to allow for additional reimbursement for ongoing vessel removals in areas that remove a substantial number of derelict vessels annually.
A derelict vessel is any vessel that is left in a wrecked, junked or substantially dismantled condition in the waters of the state.
Eligible governments must have removed 40 or more vessels within three of the preceding five calendar years.
However, smaller municipalities such as Bradenton Beach may not qualify for the block grants.
According to Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby, approximately 25 derelict and abandoned boats have been removed by the city from waters in the past five years.
Local boat captains have expressed concern about sunken and unregistered boats south of the Cortez Bridge off the fishing village of Cortez, in Manatee County. In May, marine law enforcement agencies issued more than 20 citations for multiple unregistered and derelict vessels.
“Our goal is to keep improving our waterways by removing as many DVs as possible,” said Maj. Bill Holcomb, FWC boating and waterways section leader. “This amendment will allow local governments that have DV removal experience and are familiar with the process an option to remove these vessels more efficiently. They can remove eligible DVs and submit for reimbursement from their awarded block grant.”
As of June 1, there were 700 derelict vessels listed in the FWC derelict vessel database statewide.
“These vessels cause the destruction of valuable seagrass resources and endanger marine life. They also threaten human life, safety and property as they drift on or beneath the surface of the water or block navigable waterways, posing a navigational hazard to the boating public,” according to an FWC press release.
The funding for each block grant award is based on a formula that includes the average number of vessel removals for the applicant and the statewide average cost per removal.
For more information about the derelict vessel removal grant program, visit MyFWC.com/boating, select “Grant Programs” then “Derelict Vessels Removal Grant Program.”
