Cortez captains are appealing to Manatee County and the state to keep their home waters safe and navigable.
Effective derelict and at-risk vessel policing programs in Sarasota, Bradenton Beach and Palmetto are pushing boat owners to areas that see less enforcement, in this case, Cortez, an unincorporated area of Manatee County.
Now captains who navigate the village’s anchorage say they face a broad field of derelict and abandoned vessels, sparking discussions about the need to increase enforcement of maritime regulations in that area of Sarasota Bay.
Capts. Katie Tupin of Capt. Katie Scarlett Boat Tours and Kathe Fannon of Captain Kathe & First-Mate Pup-Pup Charters spoke to The Islander May 22 about problems navigating the Cortez waters.
“There are dozens of abandoned boats that are anchored improperly,” Tupin said. “We get a little bit of wind or bad weather, an anchor line breaks loose or they come loose and they end up crashing into private docks.”
She said one abandoned vessel recently sank and leaked fuel into the bay.
“When I do boat tours one of the top five questions from my customers is ‘Why are those boats just left there like that,’” Fannon said. “None of these boats have ever motored up there. They are all towed there.”
Tupin and Fannon said they contacted the Manatee County sheriff’s office and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission about expediting the removal of problem boats but aren’t getting the response they feel is needed to ensure public safety.
“Maybe 13 years ago the county came in and removed a lot of the boats but I haven’t seen them come out and remove the derelict and abandoned boats in years,” Tupin said. “And no one seems to care, the county doesn’t send anyone out to take care of it.”
“There are boats out there with a bunch of oil and diesel that spill out,” she added.
The FWC works with municipalities to remove derelict and sunken vessels. The process of holding vessel owners accountable involves legal procedures that take considerable time and ownership can be elusive.
The FWC estimates removal costs are $400-$800 per foot.
Tupin said there is a distinction to be made between people who live on well-maintained boats and those occupying at-risk vessels.
“There are people who are doing the right thing,” Tupin said. “They bring their garbage to land every week. They are living and being responsible on their boat. They are not a problem.”
The captains estimated that between Cortez and Longboat Key Pass there are 10-12 sunken vessels in need of removal.
“I can’t believe the Coast Guard puts up with it,” Fannon said. The U.S. Coast Guard has a station at 4530 124th St. Court W., Cortez. “Because they have to dodge it all in an emergency. They’re out there at 2 and 4 o’clock in the morning, in the rain or whatever and they have to dodge all those boats in order to go rescue somebody. I can’t believe they tolerate it.”
Manatee County public information officer Bill Logan told The Islander in a May 20 email that while the FWC typically heads up derelict vessel investigations, county marine resources can assist with investigations.
People who want to reach the marine resources office can call 941-748-4501.
The Islander reached out to the FWC by email May 21 but as of Islander press time May 27 no response was received.