BOATING

Not many boaters were on the water on Wednesday, but that will change this weekend.Local law enforcement agencies are bringing awareness to boating safety and manatee safety as the summer boating season approaches.

Meteorologist Katie Garner got a chance to go out with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to see the issues they deal with firsthand on the St. Johns River.

News4JAX got an inside look at how the Coast Guard and Air Station train for emergencies on the water.

Blessing of the Fleet

Railway safety is a major concern following the Feb. 3 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

So many people going to the Georgia-Florida game tailgate by boat. Coast Guard members say they want people to have fun, but they’re urging them to stay safe

When a tropical storm or hurricane affects Florida, boat owners and operators have to worry about more than just their homes and families.

The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office was out on the water patrolling for the holiday weekend as a part of Operation Dry Water.

Many people hit the St. Johns River on Friday for “Boater Skip Day,” an unofficial annual holiday where people play hooky for a day on the water.

Memorial Day weekend is considered the unofficial start of the boating season, and it’s important that boaters stay safe on the water.

Boating and Florida go hand in hand. With National Safe Boating Week in effect, North Florida Marine Association making sure boaters have what they need before heading out to sea.

It seems as if there’s an Airbnb-type site for everything these days.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is asking Florida residents and visitors to help keep manatees safe, especially while out on the water.

A sailboat has washed ashore between Ocean Trace and Dondanville.

Those along the Great Lakes and rivers near Detroit and Canada have taken notice of a special boat that’s been sailing those waters this summer.

Due to the excessive rainfall experienced in Nassau County over the last few months, the water level in many area creeks and rivers are higher than normal.

The FWC is cracking down on boaters under the influence as part of a statewide initiative called Operation Dry Water.

The Fernandina Harbor Marina is booked 100% this Memorial Day weekend after being restricted to boat owners and occupants during the COVID-19 pandemic. The marina was closed for three years after being badly damaged during Hurricane Matthew in 2016. We just got in maybe 1 1/2 hours ago, so we just came ashore and they did not have slips available at the Marina," Owens said. Because the marina is 100% booked this weekend, theres no short term or day docking available today or tomorrow. The city is doing its Memorial Day Service at the Veterans Memorial Monument in downtown at 11 a.m. Monday.