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Decision affects boaters, manatees

By Times Staff Writer
Published September 16, 2005

On Wednesday, a new speed limit could be set on the waters of Tampa Bay.

The Hillsborough County Commission will discuss at 2 p.m. whether to establish a slow-speed, minimum wake zone from the mouth of the Little Manatee River to the Manatee County line.

The debate will likely pit manatee advocates against boaters. Friends of the manatees want county speed limits to prevent injury to Florida's treasured sea cows. Boaters say they can be trusted to drive responsibly. Both sides previously agreed to a voluntary slow-speed zone. But manatee advocates say a boaters group called C-BUG hasn't done enough to oversee it.

We talked to two people on both sides of the debate.

Jessica Koelsch is Florida marine wildlife program manager at the Ocean Conservancy in St. Petersburg, a nonprofit group that advocates for healthy oceans. She spent nine years studying the manatees' habitat in Sarasota with Mote Marine Laboratory. Since 2000, she has lobbied for manatee protections in Tampa Bay.

Q. Why are speed restrictions necessary around Cockroach Bay?

Much of this shallow area has already been designated motorboat slow speed to protect manatees.

When boats slow down, manatees have more time to detect, react and get out of the way of approaching vessels. Boat operators also have more time to respond. If a slow-moving boat hits a manatee, the collision involves less force and less damage to the manatee.

Q. Do voluntary slow-speed zones to protect manatees work?

A. Voluntary slow-speed zones can protect manatees, (but) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute studies have shown that fear of a ticket is the greatest motivation for boaters to travel at slow speeds. Voluntary speed restrictions could work when boaters are educated about threats to manatees and concerned about hitting them.

FWRI research shows that in Tampa Bay, one boater education program in Tampa Bay did not significantly affect boater behavior. But regulatory zones did dramatically slow boat speeds.

C-BUG received support from the Hillsborough County Commission to undertake a voluntary slow-speed project for three years in Cockroach Bay, using education to encourage boaters to operate at slow speeds in waters 6 feet deep or less. Unfortunately, C-BUG has not conducted the level of boater education or monitoring necessary for the project to succeed.

Q. Will the county's proposed speed restrictions close the area to boaters?

A. No. No new areas of Cockroach Bay will be closed to boaters.

The current proposal would allow boaters to travel at planning speeds (25 mph) in the deeper channels and require slower speeds in the shallow waters. This configuration matches the current C-BUG voluntary zone. The only change: The new rule would make the speed zones required rather than voluntary.

Q. What is the status of the manatee in Florida?

A. Florida manatees are native to our state. They are listed as endangered at both the federal and state level.

In some areas of Florida where adequate protection measures are in place, such as Crystal River and the St. Johns River, manatees are doing well and their numbers are increasing. In other regions, such as the east coast, manatee populations appear stable. However, in southwest Florida, the status of the population is uncertain and may be in decline.

Charlie Feldschau is the volunteer president of C-BUG, the Cockroach Bay Users Group. The consultant and retired mechanical engineer lives in Sun City Center. He likes to sail and fish in Cockroach Bay.

Q. Why does C-BUG want a voluntary slow-speed zone in Cockroach Bay?

A. C-BUG has worked to promote slow speeds in the whole preserve since 1995, protecting sea grass, grazing manatees and other water creatures. It is similar in many respects to the neighborhood watch to educate boaters on better water behavior.

Q. What has C-BUG done to educate boaters about manatee protection?

A. C-BUG has posted its sea grass preserve chart indicating levels of boat speeds in various shallow areas frequented by manatees since 1995. We also have prepared individual bay and river charts, and fliers on sea grass for handout. Monofilament collection stations were set up, informational two-sided kiosks were built at the seven launch ramps to the preserve, and we created the unique Boater Educational Kits for handout at the ramps.

Q. How will the county's proposed mandatory speed restrictions affect boaters?

A. The posting of mandatory speed regulations is a political growth management solution in which the manatee is an innocent poster mammal. Regulations would cause more harm than good for the Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. Here's why: It will only be observed when law enforcement officers are present. Just look at the patterns of travel on Interstate 75.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will never have the number of officers needed to patrol the area 24 hours per day. But C-BUG volunteers and followers can be on the job week in and week out at no cost to the taxpayers.

Q. Why was C-BUG created, and what is its mission?

A. C-BUG was originally created in 1995 to protect the sea grass beds from boat propeller damage. After a three-year test program, established by the Hillsborough County Commission, the sea grass beds were found to have recovered, and the County Commission approved continuation of C-BUG's work.

Since the sea grass beds also attract manatees, they were both protected from damage well before the courts established mandatory slow speed zones throughout Florida. C-BUG's mission in the preserve has always been to maintain the environment, assist other organizations to restore damage, maintain the traditional uses of the area, and develop watch programs for reporting damage, such as the recent graffiti attacks to kiosks.

Q. How will changes to the speed restrictions affect C-BUG goals?

A. C-BUG boat speed recommendations for sea grass protection have always been tighter than what is now proposed. Its message on a voluntary approach has been successful and has not cost the taxpayers any money.

We would like our method of operation to continue on a voluntary basis. The law enforcement officers can always enter a voluntary area in the event of a dire emergency to check catches, licenses and safety equipment. This appears to be an obvious win-win solution.

[Last modified September 22, 2005, 16:17:40]