 BOATERS CRITICIZE MANATEE-FRIENDLY MARINA PLAN Palm Beach Post -- Tuesday, April 24, 2001 By: Jim Reeder, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Fort Pierce -- A plan to concentrate new marinas near the Fort Pierce Inlet as a way to protect manatees came under fire from boaters and St. Lucie County commissioners Monday night. They questioned its basic claim that most boaters go out the inlet to the ocean and whether it's fair to Port St. Lucie and residents of other areas where few manatees gather. The Boat Facility Siting Plan states most area boaters go out to the ocean and putting marinas in that area would mean shorter trips and less chance manatees would get hit by a boat. "Most people don't go offshore, they fish in the Indian River Lagoon," Port St. Lucie resident Ed Jeffords said. "With this plan we would have to go to boat ramps in Fort Pierce or Jensen Beach to fish near the power lines (midway between the two)." Residents said since manatees gather near the inlet it makes little sense to increase boating activity there unnecessarily. The plan, written by biologist Peter Merritt of the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, would designate the inlet as a preferred area for boating facilities. Applications to build in other areas would face additional scrutiny. Requirements could become tougher if manatee deaths increase in the county. "It seems unfair to restrict building in the whole county when most manatees are in the northern part," Commissioner Doug Coward said. "That's unfair to the south part of the county." Coward also said he's unhappy that Merritt wrote the plan and now it's up to the county staff to incorporate public comments into a final draft. "It seems odd we have someone do a draft plan and we never see him again," Coward said. "We should tell him to redraft the plan based on our comments." Merritt was unable to attend Monday night's meeting but commissioners plan to talk with him individually so he and staff can write a new draft. The siting plan will be incorporated into a manatee protection plan that could include new speed restrictions and manatee refuges. Several speakers said existing rules should be enforced first. "This report says enforcement is adequate," Jeffords said. "Come with me on a weekend to the North Fork of the St. Lucie River and you'll see that's not true." Copyright (c) 2001, The Palm Beach Post |