JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Mayor Donna Deegan and local, state and federal officials urged boaters Monday to take simple safety steps, especially wearing life jackets and obeying manatee protection zones, as they kicked off National Safe Boating Week and the start of the summer boating season.
“Safety saves lives,” Deegan said, citing U.S. Coast Guard statistics that 87% of drowning victims in recreational boating accidents were not wearing life jackets.
She urged boaters to complete a nationally approved boating safety course, never operate vessels while impaired and watch for manatees, kayakers and paddleboarders.
Lt. Kevin Kilcoyne of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office marine unit said the unit, which patrols about 75 square miles of navigable waterways in Duval County, handled nearly 1,000 calls for service last year and will step up enforcement this season.
“We will be enforcing the slow speed zones, the manatee protection zones and other applicable laws, including boating under the influence,” Kilcoyne said.
He encouraged boaters to check safety equipment and ensure children’s life jackets fit properly.
Lt. Carmine Calisto, recreational boating safety coordinator at U.S. Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville, reiterated basic precautions.
“Always, always wear your life jacket. Just like you always wear a seatbelt when you get in the car,” he said, and he urged boaters to carry communication devices, file a float plan and use an engine cut-off switch.
“Never boat under the influence,” Calisto added, calling impaired operation “just as dangerous as driving under the influence.”
Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission highlighted threats to manatees. Nadia Lentz said FWC had responded to nine manatee mortalities in Duval County so far this year, including three linked to watercraft, and urged people to give the animals space.
“Anything you do to change the natural behavior of a marine mammal is considered harassment,” she said, and she asked the public to report injured or dead marine mammals to the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline or online at myfwc.com.
Dr. Jerry Pinto of Jacksonville University’s Marine Science Research Institute said recent aerial surveys show “probably in excess of 100 manatees already in the county,” mostly south of the Buckman Bridge, and advised boaters to be vigilant.
“Paying attention to what’s out there on the water is critical not only for your own safety, but for the safety of the wildlife,” Pinto said, recommending polarized sunglasses to help spot animals.
Robert Lynch, public information officer for the FWC’s North Central region, urged constant awareness and formal education.
“Know what’s going on around your boat at all times,” he said, noting that a large share of fatal boating accidents involve operators with no formal boater education. He also stressed a “zero tolerance” approach to boating while impaired.
Boating-industry and community representatives echoed the safety message. Aaron Johnson of the North Florida Marina Association said, “Safe boating starts long before leaving the dock,” noting the importance of checking weather, carrying communication gear and designating a sober operator.
Gary Callahan of the Jacksonville Sailing Power Squadron urged boaters to take state-recognized safety classes taught by certified instructors.
Officials advised boaters to check required and optional emergency equipment, monitor changing weather, learn local slow-speed and temporary slow-speed zones, and file a float plan so friends or family know expected return times. For local resources and more information, officials pointed to boatjax.com and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s website at myfwc.com.
Duval County has approximately 230 linear miles of coastline affected by tidal influence.
According to the Florida Wildlife & Commission (FWC) in 2024:
- Florida is the Top state in registered vessels
- Duval County is rated 45th in state in number of boating incidents
- There are approximately 28,000 boats registered in Duval County
- Last reported, there were 16 boating accidents,7 injuries, 2 fatalities in Duval County
- 58% were not wearing personal flotation devices
- 41% had and 39 had no boater education, % unknown
- Operator inattention and no proper lookout were major causes of boating incidents