Tips for Boaters and Fishermen
- Practice good seamanship and safe boating. Keep safe distances from
other boats and fisherman. Observe size and catch
limits. Release all fish you can't consume.
- Don't disturb wildlife. Stay at least 200 feet offshore. Keep speed,
noise, and wakes to a minimum near mangroves.
- Dumping trash at sea is illegal. Plastic bags and other debris can injure
or kill marine animals. Try to retrieve fishing
gear and equipment, especially monofilament line.
- Accidental boat groundings damage the reef. Prop damage destroys shallow
seagrass beds. Consult tide and navigational charts and steer
away from shallow areas. Keep in mind: "Brown, brown run aground. Blue,
blue sail on through."
- Use reef mooring buoys or anchor in sandy areas away from coral and
seagrasses so that anchor and chain do not
damage the coral or seagrass beds.
- Use sewage pump-out facilities and biodegradable bilge cleaner, and
never discharge bilge water at the reef.