FWC officials provide boating safety tips ahead of Labor Day Weekend

BAY COUNTY, Fla. ( WMBB ) – The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is keeping boaters safe this Labor Day weekend. They will be patrolling waterways looking for reckless or impaired drivers.

Boaters should be aware of safety rules and regulations before they hit the water.

The FWC says boaters are required to have safety gear on board and follow Coast Guard navigational rules.

For some, it may be their first time on the waterways.

“A lot of people might be renting vessels this weekend. It might be the first time they’ve ever been on a boat. So just because you know all the rules and regulations as far as navigation rules and safety gear, not everyone else around you might,” FWC Public Information Officer Chris Boley said.

Inexperienced boaters can take a safety class to prepare. Keep an eye out for other watercraft and hazards on the water.

“Make sure you’re looking out for other vessels in the water. Make sure you’re hearing all channel markers, idle speed zones, as well as looking for diver down flags. If you see a diver flag up, if you’re within a hundred yards of it, come down to idle speed,” Boley said.

You can call the Coast Guard on VHF channel 16 for emergency and distress calls. Have good GPS directions of where you are so they can respond as quickly as possible.

Officer Boley urges boaters to have a sober designated operator to avoid boating accidents.

“Please have a designated operator because operating a vessel while your normal faculties are impaired, whether it’s from alcohol, illegal drugs or prescription drugs is illegal and you will go to jail,” Boley said.

Make sure to check the weather and tide change before you go out.

Zero boating accidents were reported on Labor Day weekend last year.

Grand Lagoon and the St. Andrews Pass are expected to be the most congested areas.

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