State of Florida. report on anchoring & Mooring fields

thataway

The State of Florida Dept of Fish and Wild life Commission report on anchoring and mooring fields has issued an interim report on the various mooring fields/anchoring services. The final report will be no sooner than mid 2017. The experiment has been going on about 5 years.

However, anyone who is considering anchoring in the future in Florida waters may find this report interesting... It is a bit more critical of the cities than I had anticipated.. For the majority of small boats like our C Dorys not a lot of impact except in very specific areas---but the laws derived from this experiment may become state wide.

One concern which hit me on fairly quick review of the document, was about "marine sanitation". One local enforcement officer suggested that "portable toilets be banned in Florida!". One other field manager commented on proof of pompous--including receipts from portable toilets dump facility! (So you cannot dump at your own home?)... For those of use in small boats with out fixed toilets and holding tanks (composting toilets were not specifically addressed.), this can be a dangerous precedent.

ken35216 · Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 10:00 pm Post subject:

Hey Dr Bob did you read all 235 pages?

Thank you for posting that!

Lollygaggin · Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2016 1:06 pm Post subject:

We had legislation passed a few years back, here in the province of British Columbia, that looked at first glance like it was outlawing the use of porta pottis of all kinds on boats. In the end there was nothing to be concerned about because there were allowances made for "permanently anchored porta pottis that were plumbed with self contained black water holding tanks".

The main concern for the law makers was the fact that the older boats had heads that vacated the untreated sewage directly into the waterways. The laws were likely drafted by folks with little to no actual knowledge of the evolution of marine heads over the past 50 or so years. We have been stopped by the Coast Guard and the local RCMP water patrol for inspections on a number of occasions and the porta potti aspect of our current boat has never been an issue. At the time the law became official our marina did cap off the outlet from the old marine head just so the boat would pass future surveys.

Will-C

We were in B.C. late this past summer. I noticed that a lot of marinas did not have any pump out stations available. We did pay to use them when they were available. It seems funny that they would ban porta potties when all of that boats that cruise up into Desolation sound have very limited or no pump out stations available at marinas and fuel docks. Given the situation people with macerators or buckets have no choice really. It was great heading back into the U.S. for free pump outs available as I imagine the U.S. government subsidizes marina pump outs in an effort to keep the waters clean. Given the number of boats in Desolation Sound in August I would think Canada might consider doing the same. At the least require marinas have pump outs at a cost. My thought is the area is certainly beautiful enough that they would want to do everything possible to keep it pristine. I know the pump out program here in the states has cleaned up the waters significantly and especially in Florida. Just an observation not meant to poke the bear here.
D.D.

localboy · Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2016 4:32 pm Post subject:

More mommy gobment. I'm so tired of the rules, regulations, orders...all ties to fees, of course. Gobment is way too big and way too intrusive.

My nine gallons of water and pee are not gonna kill the environment.

Foggy · Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2016 5:42 pm Post subject:

Maverick boaters having no intention of following overboard discharge rules or
common sense and decency ruin popular anchorages for the rest of us.
It's another case of a few rotten apples... It seems to always happen.
It's not new. I've seen it in several areas and it is disgusting.

Popular anchorages attract many. With many comes 'The Bell Curve' of those
who are responsible and expect the same from others only to be disappointed
by the others. It's a sign of the times and most distressing to me is there is not
much you can do about it except complain, explain and refrain.

Like Malibu was once paradise. Once 'found', kiss it goodbye.

Aye.
Grandpa used to say, "Had enough? Call Dr Kevorkian."

ken35216 · Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2016 7:57 pm Post subject:

Pat Anderson · Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2016 9:36 pm Post subject:

Foggy, I don't disagree with you in principle, but what are you supposed to do when there are NO pump outs or porta-potty dumps? We have a composting toilet, so the only issue is the liquid bottle (urine). And while we can argue whether urine is sterile or not (it technically is not but practically is), when there is no alternative available, it IS going overboard!

ssobol · Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2016 9:42 pm Post subject:

ssobol · Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2016 9:53 pm Post subject:

thataway · Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2016 10:42 pm Post subject:

Looks like we are gong to have to get rid of all of those pesky fish and mammals who "pee" in the ocean....oh wait...there is good evidence that when fish urine content is decreased the reef health diminishes...
The "evidence" that human urine might be harmful to coral reefs, is due to algae blooms--which are increased by increased nitrogen in the water.. (Ie urea). The "Study" which suggested this had to do with sewage off the coast of Mexico...

There are natural cycles--and too much of anything is an issue...also pathogens are a problem--so caution needs to be exercised...

I am not encouraging discharge of pollutants in closed systems, or near shore...

The mention of holding tanks/portipotty is incidental to the study.

Ken--I have skimmed each page, but will be reading it in detail over the next day or so...

ssobol · Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2016 11:56 pm Post subject:

Foggy · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2016 7:14 am Post subject:

Adult Potty Training 101

Those who put their excrement (solid and/or liquid) into the water that
belongs to all of is not acceptable. If you are doing this, stop. If you are
doing this, you are part of the problem (the proverbial rotten apple), not
part of the solution.

What can you do? Folks, it's not that difficult so please don't snivel about it.

Like in some/most land based National Parks, leave everything as you found
it. This means everything. Used to be OK to bury your waste but now many
places you cannot. What do you do? Anticipate your needs, prepare and
"pack it out". In boats, bring an extra container or so and dispose on shore
in appropriate sewage site.

"No alternative" to dumping overboard only exists for the thoughtless.

Aye.
You don't want to know what Grandma used to say.

BillE · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2016 11:20 am Post subject:

So, pee while swimming, fine, pee off the side while fishing, fine, pee into a bottle--then go pour that bottle overboard--and the result is now somehow a discharge of toxins?
At one point all the sewage produced by the town of Key West ran straight out to sea, untreated in any way. The sea life probably loved the nutrition.

I see a big difference between solids and urine, which is instantly diluted way beyond what is required for safety.

But yes, I know that some pigs would discharge 30 gallons while tied up at a marina. So don't swim near the marina!

localboy · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2016 1:35 pm Post subject: