Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Teams up with U.S.F.W.S. in Manatee Zone Enforcement
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Category: WildlifeType: News
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Date: Thursday, February 5th, 2004
Statement by Sam D. Hamilton, Southeast Director, U.S.F.W.S..
"We have teamed up with the State of Florida to enhance understanding of our mutual manatee protection efforts," said Sam D. Hamilton, Southeast Regional Director. "This increased coordination will help eliminate confusion some boaters may feel."
Hamilton went on to say this is part of a long term strategy to provide equitable and meaningful enforcement for Florida throughout the law enforcement community, but that public support is what it's really all about.
"Without the support from the State of Florida, and especially the people of Florida, sufficient manatee protection would be impossible," said Hamilton.
FWC news release follows:
FWC TEAMS UP WITH FWS IN MANATEE ZONE ENFORCEMENT
February 4, 2004
Contact: Henry Cabbage, (850) 488-4676
State and federal law enforcement officers will team up to enforce boat speed laws in manatee zones across Florida this year.
Col. Julie Jones, head of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC's) law enforcement division, briefed the agency's 7 Commissioners on the joint plan today. During the FWC's meeting at Amelia Island Resort, Jones said the complex system of state and federal speed zones is confusing to boaters.
She said the FWC and the U.S.F.W.S. (FWS) have worked out a mutual aid arrangement that will standardize enforcement across the state, giving federal officers authority to write state citations, which bear lower penalties than federal citations.
"In some areas, state officers will write federal citations when violations are particularly egregious or involve repeat offenders," she said. She said state and federal officers will patrol together in ten operations during 2004 in areas of high manatee mortality from vessels and in areas of high manatee concentration.
"Under this agreement, officers from the 2 agencies will train together and work together to enforce manatee protection laws that boaters can understand and accept as reasonable," Jones said. "We're developing an operational project that will clear the way for improved compliance and provide consistent enforcement statewide."
Jones said an important element in the arrangement is that the FWC will be the lead agency in manatee zone enforcement, and that is in line with the FWC's position that the state is best suited to protect manatees in state waters.
The mutual aid arrangement between the 2 agencies will enhance officers' ability to work together on other matters such as the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, interstate transportation of protected species cases and federal fisheries issues.
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