5/8/1990 - Laserfiche WebLink

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time because our record is good, but the state is looking to the future and the river is getting full. He was convinced that the state will never reduce the restrictions they do put on even if the manatee deaths are reduced, and while he felt the plan the county has come up with now is a good plan, what concerns him is that if we don't address teaching the people how to use the river,'the state will be back wanting more and more restrictions. Robert Turner of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, advised that he is a biologist, a boater, and an advocate for protection of the manatees. He believed that most boaters feel that slow speed is a small price to pay for protecting the manatee. He related the low manatee mortality in the county to the low level of boating traffic and stressed that as boat traffic increases in Indian River County, it becomes more and more important to control it. Mr. Turner stated that Sebastian Creek is one of - the most important manatee habitats on the east coast, and he felt it is important that all boats travel at slow speeds while operating in the Creek. He believed the plan the County is considering today is a compromise and advised that the Service believes this plan provides a minimum level of protection necessary to reduce the potential for conflicts between boats and manatees. Commissioner Scurlock asked if Mr. Turner was in support of the modified plan that staff is recommending, and Mr. Turner clarified that he was in favor of the plan the state presented back to the county; he was in favor of slow speed in the entire Sebastian River. Discussion followed as to just which areas the DNR actually has compromised on and also in regard to the fact that it seems we have been included in a rule the DNR generated in working with Brevard County regarding the Sebastian River. Chairman Eggert expressed her unhappiness with this rule being printed before the Indian River County Commission agreed to it. MAYu15® 45 BOOKU�