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Should Manatee Speed Zones be lifted?

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by YachtForums, Jun 9, 2006.

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  1. YachtForums, Jun 9, 2006
    #1
    YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    A poll is being conducted by the Ft. Lauderdale News / Sun-Sentinal asking readers...


    "Florida has decided to move the manatee off the endangered list to "threatened." Should the state continue its development restrictions and widespread go-slow zones for boaters in manatee zones?"


    As of Friday morning, June 9th 2006, there are 4136 total responses...


    86.8% - Yes. The tough rules are successfully protecting the manatees. (3588 responses)

    8.8% - No. Now that the manatee is thriving, some restrictions and speed zones should be eased. (365 responses)

    3.3% - I don't think there should be any laws protecting the manatee. (137 responses)

    1.1% - I'm not sure. (46 responses)

    Here's the link... http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
  2. YachtForums, Jun 9, 2006
    #2
    YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    There's no question that manatee zones have hurt the marine industry. In some cases, there is no clear reason for some zones to exist, prompting one to think that politics play a larger role in protecting the manatee.

    I wonder what the results would be if *boaters* were asked the same question?
  3. Ken Bracewell, Jun 9, 2006
    #3
    Ken Bracewell

    Ken Bracewell Senior Member

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    Wealthy Manatee

    I have always found it a little odd that the manatee always seem to take up residence in the most affluential neighborhoods:D
  4. nas130, Jun 9, 2006
    #4
    nas130

    nas130 Member

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    Always around the nice Marianas too! I have spent two seasons at the Palm Beach town docks and there are countless 40 footers waking everyone. I personally do not spend anytime cruising the intracostal, so I actually appreciate the breaks from the wakes. People will wake a 100 footer all the time and not realize that they are sensitive to wakes as well!!!

    nas
  5. wingless, Dec 22, 2009
    #5
    wingless

    wingless Member

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    The worst part about the speed zones is many of the signs are tiny, with small print, all have similar text w/ different meanings and none of this shows up on either the printed or the chip chart.

    So, even w/ my 7x50 binoculars I have to come off a plane, slow to read the sign and then select an appropriate speed.
  6. Capt J, Dec 22, 2009
    #6
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I agree totally. I think *some* of the manatee zones should be lifted as they are not there for the manatees, but there for the houses. However, there are certain area's that manatees do congregate in on a frequent basis (such as near powerplant discharges) and those should stay.
  7. Pascal, Dec 22, 2009
    #7
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    indeed, Manatee Zones dont mean much anymore since they are often used to slow down boats in congested area.

    keep them where Manatees congregates.

    Now, there are some stretches of the ICW which need to be kept slow, mostly on week end due to the volume of traffic. Primarily narrow sections with sea walls on each side where wakes bounces and cause hazardous conditions.

    i dont' think that manatee zones hurt the boating indusry, there are still many unrestricted area (Biscayne Bay for instance and the Keys). What has hurt the marine industry is the restrictions on new docks and new marinas.
  8. Pascal, Dec 22, 2009
    #8
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    indeed, Manatee Zones dont mean much anymore since they are often used to slow down boats in congested area.

    keep them where Manatees congregates.

    Now, there are some stretches of the ICW which need to be kept slow, mostly on week end due to the volume of traffic. Primarily narrow sections with sea walls on each side where wakes bounces and cause hazardous conditions.

    i dont' think that manatee zones hurt the boating indusry, there are still many unrestricted area (Biscayne Bay for instance and the Keys). What has hurt the marine industry is the restrictions on new docks and new marinas.
  9. NYCAP123, Dec 22, 2009
    #9
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    No need to read every sign. Once you learn what each word grouping looks like tou can tell what it says from a long distance glance.
  10. C4ENG, Dec 22, 2009
    #10
    C4ENG

    C4ENG Senior Member

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    Maybe if I went and hunted for manatees in a couple of restricted areas I might find some but I have not seen a manatee in the south east Florida water ways in years. The manatee rules are beating dead horses and causing un-necessary problems as far as I can see. If anything it should at least be season restrictions
  11. NYCAP123, Dec 22, 2009
    #11
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    It's almost a given you'll see them in the Titusville area and all through the Indian River. Can't remember the time I didn't see them in the Haulover Canal cut from Mosquito Lagoon. Watched a pair mating on the sandbar at the entrance to the New River in Ft. Lauderdale. Just have to be looking.
  12. Henning, Dec 22, 2009
    #12
    Henning

    Henning Senior Member

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    I've had them behind my apt on the canal on the N side of SE 15th st FtL a few times in the last few years.
  13. VikHatBer, Dec 22, 2009
    #13
    VikHatBer

    VikHatBer New Member

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    The speed fine pyramid is designed to extort money from grandpa for going 2 knots over the speed limit in his Sea Ray. So many jobs have been created for the LEO bureaucracy because of infractions it is hard to deny this. I think that if this poll were taken anywhere but the most liberal part of Florida ("the Debbie Wasserman Schultz coastal zone") the polling results would have been much different. Try this poll in Naples, the Panhandle, the Keys, Cape Coral etc. and the results will be the other way around...
  14. NYCAP123, Dec 22, 2009
    #14
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Florida is sticking their fingers into the snowbird's pockets? Now there's a shocker. Next thing you know they'll be setting up speed traps on A1A in Lauderdale By The Sea. :rolleyes:
  15. Mark I, Dec 23, 2009
    #15
    Mark I

    Mark I Member

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    I seem to recall that some of the speed signs have different rules for weekends and weekdays.

    Do the manatees read these signs and stay away on daysor hours when boats can go faster?
  16. NYCAP123, Dec 23, 2009
    #16
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Educated aren't they?:D That goes to show who the regulations were actually implemented for. At least the manatee are a bit safer as a side benefit to saving those seawalls and lawns.
  17. VikHatBer, Dec 23, 2009
    #17
    VikHatBer

    VikHatBer New Member

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    No speeding fines enforced during Sabbath in Ft Lauderdale!:D
  18. C4ENG, Dec 29, 2009
    #18
    C4ENG

    C4ENG Senior Member

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    I just happened to see a manatee in S Fl waters ways today unexpectedly and surprisingly. Not in the marked ICW though.
  19. NYCAP123, Dec 29, 2009
    #19
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    They're obviously smarter than some who make the rules, so why not. :D
  20. NYCAP123, Feb 3, 2011
    #20
    NYCAP123

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