Free newspaper and DVD help boaters avoid trouble in Florida Bay

March 18, 7:59 PMMiami Travel ExaminerGeorge Leposky

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Florida Bay  National Park Service photo

A free educational newspaper and DVD are now available to help boaters avoid running aground in the shallow Florida Bay waters of Everglades National Park.

A recent study of boater use found that boating in Florida Bay and the Gulf Coast areas of the park has increased by 250 percent in the last two to three decades. Along with this growth in popularity has come an increase in the incidence of groundings.

In recent years, Everglades park rangers have investigated 80 to 90 groundings annually. Boaters who run aground in the bay can tear up sediments and sea grasses on the fragile bay bottom, damage their boats, and face costly fines.

In an effort to educate boaters and protect the bay, the park has produced a free 12-minute DVD based upon a free newspaper, the Florida Bay Map and Guide, published jointly by the park and local associations of fishing guides.

The DVD and newspaper explain that Florida Bay consists of more than three dozen basins, most of which are five feet deep or less, separated by even shallower banks that can give boaters grief.

To help boaters avoid such problems, the DVD presents boating rules and advice from local fishing guides and park rangers who know Florida Bay waters intimately based on years of personal experience. It also covers essential boating concepts such as how to read the water, boat handling techniques, and navigation.

The newspaper includes additional advice from local captains, and a map that serves as a companion to Waterproof Chart 33E – the standard navigation chart for the Florida Bay area. 

The Florida Bay Map and Guide is available at marine stores, tackle shops, and marinas in the vicinity of Florida Bay. In addition, both the DVD and the Florida Bay Map and Guide are available as downloads from the park’s Web site  or by calling 305-852-0324, ext. 0338.

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For more info: Everglades National Park