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FWC: Social Distancing Applies On The Water Too With New Boating Restrictions
March 29, 2020
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) has added new boating restrictions to reduce large gatherings to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Recreational vessels must be at least 50 feet apart with no more than 10 people on board under the order.
“The Commission has observed and received numerous reports from across the state that large numbers of vessels are congregating together in various locations across the state, tying up or anchoring close together, and individuals are often leaving their vessels and assembling closely in shallow water,” the order states.
The distance restriction does not apply to public or private marinas, mooring fields or permanent wet slips.
Comments
22 Responses to “FWC: Social Distancing Applies On The Water Too With New Boating Restrictions”
@Tabby and @John I agree with both of you. Sorry I was at work and autocorrect loves to change my spelling. My husband is a charter captain and we also enjoy our time on the water. This is just completely asinine and the government is trying to create sheep out of all of us! They are trying to take away all of our constitutional rights and it’s complete BS! No I will not stay off the water, no I will not stay inside at home, this virus is not heat resistant so the more sun the better! We are not drinkers and party people. We enjoy our waterways from the St Johns to the intracoastal waterways! What’s next, limiting our bank accounts on how much we can spend on groceries for the love of god?!?! No thanks, they can shove their “rules” where the sun don’t shine! If I’m not feeling well yes I stay away from people and stay home, but for myself and my family I will continue enjoying our waterways and honestly they can’t do a damn thing to us if we are using private boat ramps! They can close the public ramps all they want, there’s more then 1 way to skin a cat folks! Happy boating and stay safe y’all!
Y’all can call it whatever you like. People saying “just follow the rules”. Yea, like the ones they already have. They take your rights at birth and lease them back to you over the course of your life. Well regulated of course. While this is a crisis, dont think the Govt isn’t doing a little experimenting to see what they can get away with keeping.
Yea, blame Larry Downs. What idiots dont seem to understand is that Larry lives on a farm with those family members which are around each other daily. They took several boats out. Why then seperate in public ? Your fools.
@jamie your point is very “mute” I agree… it’s so lacking in substance I cant hear it at all. But you meant “moot” I think lol
Until the government restrict air traffic and cancel flights, this is a mute point! Has anyone actually gotten the facts about this virus, it is NOT heat resistant! Yes I believe keeping social distancing, but 50ft is asinine! Even the CDC states keep 6ft away! How about keep nonresident THE HELL OUT OF FLORIDA! Stay in your own state, stop migrating here and chill the heck out! It’s not that difficult people, wash your hands, didn’t your mothers teach you that when you were a toddler? If she didn’t, she failed at life! I have been in the medical field for over 13 years, yes this virus is real, just like any other virus, use the grey matter upstairs! If you are feeling ill, flu like symptoms, have a fever, stay the heck home and call your primary care doctor! Hello, when did our country become a bunch of brain dead individuals?!?!
It doesn’t say you can’t fish, just stay away from everybody. We can live with this.
I understand what everybody is saying about their rights but that has nothing to do with this virus people that don’t believe that this is serious needs to go to New York and work there in the hospitals and watch how many people that has died go into that Make shift freezer then maybe they would be saying thank you for looking out for my family instead of being jerks and making things worse than they already are so we’re inconvenience for a short time it’s not forever but for me if my children and my grandchildren are not in that big rig I feel I’m blessed This is a time when we should be looking out for each other not worried about who’s right or who’s wrong I think we should do what’s right
I agree we shouldn’t have people congregating on the water, but 50 ft apart is just dumb when they say we only need to stand 6 ft apart. And why are so many boat ramps closing… This is very
This won’t stop me from taking my boat out. Until you limit everyone hoarding at Walmart I won’t stop enjoying boating and going out on the water. Don’t care what these wanna be cops say. And the governor just sealed his fate next election.
If these boaters do not follow the rules the governor could close all boat ramps statewide.
just stay at home and learn how to read a book , clean your home, do activites with your kids…. People are dying from the virus!
Ever heard of “Give me liberty or give me death”?
First of all its not two Hector. Does obeying traffic or littering laws relate to communism? Your argument is moronic. Those officers are trying to help with the spread of this disease. And as far as Im concerned with that video, they should have taken that plumber to jail
What’s next……we are like prisoners in this country. We can’t remain like this much more..we need “freedom”, “need to go back to work”, we need interaction…we have brains and we know what to do so give us back our lives
For Christ’s sake, just follow the rules and life will eventually get back to normal.
Communism?
Republicans are nearly in total control of every elected office in Florida and in Escambia County. Talk about deep state!
And they are trying their best to keep money going by opening beaches, allowing people to “self” quarantine, downplaying the emergency with vain projections of declaring all will be well by Easter, and telling people to get some sun.
No, only fascism would favor business and individualism at a time when the entire population is faced with an aggressive pathogen. No sense of community. Only self.
When you cash your $1,200 check in a few weeks…. congratulations, you’re participating in classic socialism. Get some fuel for your boat. Share a vape and a drink. Get close to one another, have a good time while the hospital workers risk their lives to be able to treat you in about 14 days.
Guess it was a good thing PYC canceled the race yesterday
Okay Hector you couldn’t even spell half of your sentence correctly.
No Hector, people in communist countries know how to spell to, ha ha
While this may be an inconvenience for people it is a necessary move by the governor to help curb the spreading of this virus. Social distancing has been proven to stop the virus from being transmitted from one person to another. Giving up this recreation activity now means we will be able to return to it more quickly.
This is absolutely ridiculous. 50 ft apart – but people can stand 6 ft apart – 50 feet apart is a ridiculously large gap. People in their boats should be left alone. Our boat holds 5 people – if my family is on the water instead of our home then it should be of no concern of yours. Our boat is only 17ft – so we have to stay 3 boat lengths at least from other boats – not always possible in channels etc.
Hector you and Larry Downs JR are the problem. This is a temporary inconvenience to lower the rate of spread of a virus. It is a small change to make in your daily life for a short amount of time. Be a decent part of a society. Help, don’t contribute to the problem. FWC officers are working to enforce measures that will return the state to normalcy.
Wow wow are starting two live in a communist country.