Five thousand boaters and almost 1,800 got checked this past weekend as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) rolled out its first coordinated statewide manatee law enforcement effort along with a team of more than 45 local, county, state and federal agencies in 19 counties.

Operation Slow Speed focused on education due to hurricane-impacted speed zone signs. Despite cooler weather and fewer than expected boaters on the water, the statewide team effort yielded:

        Manatee Warnings-176
        Manatee Citations-128
        Boating Safety Warnings-319
        Boating Safety Citations-93
        Fishery Violation Warnings-23
        Fishery Violation Citations-22

In addition, this team performed four search-and-rescue missions, as well as responded to 30 calls for service. Officers made one arrest for boating-under-the-influence and two for Homeland Security violations in Palm Beach County.

“During this time of the year we see an influx of seasonal residents on our waterways,” said Officer Scott Prasse, the operation’s organizer. “That coupled with seasonal changes in manatee speed zones and migration patterns makes it crucial for us to educate boaters. We want to save lives and manatees.”

Through November, 358 manatees have died this year statewide, 70 by watercraft. Through Dec. 4, 73 boaters have died on Florida’s waterways. In 2003, Florida led the nation in boating deaths with 64, and last year, had 68. Most of them were preventable.

This is the third year for Operation Slow Speed in Palm Beach County but the first time it was a statewide project.

Boaters are required to know the rules for the waters where they boat. Replacing signs destroyed by past hurricanes may take months, but the speed zones that those signs mark will still be in effect. Complete copies of individual county waterway rules are available at MyFWC.com/manatee/rules or by contacting the FWC at (850) 922-4330.

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