FWC creates new program to prevent boats from becoming derelict

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission launched a program last week to help prevent vessels in state waterways from becoming derelict.

Derelict vessels are boats that have been abandoned and allowed to deteriorate in public waters.

Aside from being eyesores, derelict vessels can pose environmental, public safety and navigation hazards.

The new At-Risk Vessel Program will allow FWC officers to collaborate with local sheriffs' offices and police departments to enter information about potentially derelict vessels into a statewide database.

Nineteen sheriffs' offices and 13 police departments around the state have already joined the At-Risk Vessel Program. The FWC is working to create more partnerships.

When an officer finds a vessel that looks like it’s untended and falling apart, he’ll post a notice on the vessel, listing the items of concern, then collect information about the vessel and enter it into the statewide database.

Photographs and information about the vessel will be displayed on a map which will be available for the public to view at myFWC.com beginning December 1st.

A letter will also be mailed to the registered owner.

If the state has to move the boat, the owner still has to pay for it.

The owner can also be charged with a felony, lose his vehicle and vessel registration privileges, incur other legal and court costs or be forced to reimburse the city, county or state for the cost of removal, depending on circumstances.

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