The waters surrounding Anna Maria Island are littered with derelict boats, prompting concerted efforts by government agencies to address the problem.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is leading an initiative from its law enforcement division to reduce a backlog of the derelict vessels across the state.
According to data supplied to The Islander in a Jan.17 email from the FWC, there were 923 active derelict vessel investigations statewide, with an average of 600 new derelict vessels added annually.
In Manatee County, there were 19 derelict vessels in local waters, according to the FWC.
FWC public information officer Adam Brown said nine of the 19 vessels were fully investigated and are pending removal. The other 10 were in the investigative process.
And that process can be slow moving.
One derelict vessel that drifted ashore at De Soto National Memorial, 8300 DeSoto Memorial Highway, Bradenton, has blocked a stretch of beach since it became displaced during Hurricane Idalia in late August 2023.
Dan Stephens, park ranger, said the vessel had shifted a few times before coming to a rest along one of the trailheads.
He said a removal can take some time because the FWC must try to find a registered owner.
Florida law defines “derelict vessels” as those left in a wrecked, junked or substantially dismantled condition on public waters. Vessels can become derelict due to neglect, abandonment or as a result of a natural disaster.
The vessels, whether sinking, aground or lacking vital operational systems, create hazards in waterways, posing risks to boaters, wildlife and natural resources.
Boats are considered derelict if they fail to meet the criteria of a seaworthy vessel, which:
- Must be able to move under its own power;
- Be secure from the elements;
- Have a light while anchoring at night;
- Have a current registration.
A derelict boat might begin as a lost or abandoned vessel and then become occupied. Once occupied, enforcement agencies have a more difficult time removing a vessel as it is viewed as a domicile.
To combat the issue, Brown said the FWC has been active in issuing citations and warnings.
According to FWC reports, from January 2020 to January 2023, 656 derelict vessel citations and 21 warnings were issued across the state.
The FWC and grant-funded law enforcement agencies, such as the Bradenton Beach Police Department, collaborate on investigations.
The BBPD started its derelict vessel removal program in 2013.
The BBPD’s patrol boat, a 24-foot center console Pathfinder, is the same model piloted locally by FWC officers and is used to patrol bayside waters.
The $120,000 vessel was funded with a grant from the West Coast Inland Navigation District, a special taxing body for Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties that promotes safe navigation and supports local efforts to maintain and enhance navigation, boating access, facilities, parks and more.
Since its inception, the BBPD derelict vessel program has removed more than 73 derelict or problem vessels from the bay waters of Bradenton Beach.
The process of holding derelict vessel owners accountable and removal of vessels involves complex legal procedures and considerable time. Derelict vessels are removed from the water, often at significant expense. The FWC estimates costs for removal can vary widely based on vessel size, location and circumstances, with an average cost ranging $400-$800 per foot.
In Cortez, Karen Bell, who owns and operates A.P. Bell Fish Co. Inc., 4600 124th St. Court W., and Starfish Co. Market and Restaurant, 12306 46th Ave. W., said Jan. 18 that she and others in the village filed complaints and worked with the FWC to curb derelict and sunken vessels in Sarasota Bay.
She said safety concerns for captains and others navigating the waters around Cortez were the driving focus behind the complaints.
Also, some Cortez residents and business people have said there are issues stemming from liveaboards, including trespassing, littering, theft and vandalism and illicit drug use has been reported in the area where they come ashore.
Bell said she and other business owners have considered hiring private security.
Cortez is one of the last remaining working fishing villages on Florida’s Gulf Coast and working captains have faced problems with improperly moored and sunken vessels interfering with navigation as they make their way to the fish house docks in Cortez to sell their catch.
“As far as the boats out there, one of my biggest concerns with this weather has been that they are moored improperly,” Bell said, referring to derelict vessels near the fish house. “I fully expected them to come barreling at our boats.”
Legislation passed in 2022 empowered the FWC to establish a Derelict Vessel Prevention Program to identify at-risk vessels before they become derelict. So law enforcement officers routinely conduct vessel inspections, issuing citations and warnings for at-risk conditions.
In 2022, the FWC began program allowing owners to voluntarily remove at-risk vessels at no cost. The program aims to prevent vessels from becoming derelict, resulting in cost savings for taxpayers and fewer derelict vessels in Florida waters.
To date, 99 vessel owners have applied for the vessel turn-in program.
Vessel owners can call the FWC for more information on the program at 850-488-5600.
People wishing to report a derelict vessel can call the FWC at 888-404-3922.
People can track derelict vessels in their area online at https://gis.myfwc.com/derelictvessel/.