FWC urges safety as Memorial Day kicks off boating season

How to stay safe while on the water

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As Memorial Day traditionally launches the summer boating season, wildlife officials are urging boaters to follow safety measures to make sure everyone can safely enjoy being on the water.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, there were 766 boating accidents last year in Florida -- resulting in 67 fatalities and 437 people injured, and causing a total of $8,531,000 in damages. 

"(There were) 25 boating accidents in Duval County (last year)," Lt. Paul Arkin, an FWC field supervisor, told News4Jax on Monday.

With more people being out on the water, Arkin and other FWC officers want to make sure people have what they need to stay safe while boating.

Arkin said patience among boaters is key, especially when there's a lot of traffic on the water. He advises that boaters should always have a checklist to make sure they have all the necessary safety gear on board.

"Boating safety gear being: a life jacket, personal flotation device for everybody on board, a horn or a whistle, a sound-producing device, a fire extinguisher, a throwable device if your vessel is over 16 feet," Arkin said. "If you're going offshore, have flares. Make sure you use a kill switch. It's very important, if you fall overboard, that kill switch is attached to you."

Arkin said boaters should also check the weather before taking their vessel out and never drink while boating. 

"We have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to boating under the influence," Arkin said. "One of the things that people like to do on holidays, and on the water, is drink alcoholic beverages. It's not illegal to drink on a boat, but it's illegal to be impaired and operate that vessel. If you are caught, we have a zero-tolerance policy and you will go to jail for operating that vessel impaired."

This weekend, according to Arkin, there were two boating under the influence arrest and one driving under the influence arrest.

Additionally, to operate a vessel of 10 horsepower or greater, Florida law requires anyone who was born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, to successfully complete an approved boating safety course and obtain a Boating Safety Education Identification Card issued by the FWC. To learn more on how to do so, visit the FWC website.


About the Author:

Corley Peel is a Texas native and Texas Tech graduate who covered big stories in Joplin, Missouri, Tulsa, Oklahoma and Jacksonville, Florida before returning to the Lone Star State. When not reporting, Corley enjoys hot yoga, Tech Football, and finding the best tacos in town.