Derelict Boat Removal

Find out what it takes to remove derelict vessels from the Indian River Lagoon. These removals are funded through alternative grant sources and not the Save Our Indian River Lagoon 1/2 cent tax funds. While not a Save Our Indian River Lagoon program, it is still an important part of cleaning up the Indian River Lagoon.
#SaveOurLagoon #LagoonLoyal #LagoonLife #OneLagoon #SpreadLagoonLove

[@user-ix8hn8dn6n]

I think that a large percentage (much more than half) of the boats that go derelict in Brevard County are being dumped. Over the last few years I watched as one guy left three derelict boats in the Barge canal when he moved from one to the next as they sunk. Now all three are sitting there waiting for the taxpayer to remove them. The City of Cocoa has decided not to rebuild the amazing docks at Cocoa Village that allowed responsible boaters to visit the Village by water because derelict boats keep taking the docks out during hurricanes.
The problem of derelict boats needs to be addresses from that perspective. If you're gonna anchor your boat somewhere and leave it, there needs to be consequences if it becomes derelict and costs taxpayers money to remove, or if in the case of Cocoa and many waterfront homeowners, causes damage. Our law enforcement can't assume they are victims of back weather. They need to be treated as responsible for the problems they cause.

[@saveourlagoon]

Even if sunk by a storm the owner is still responsible for the removal. FWC actively pursues going after the boat owner for the cost of removal. The county is using grant funds to remove the vessels and is typically reimbursed once FWC successfully recovers the fines from the boat owners. There is more of an issue of finding owners when sales aren't recorded and registration is not changed. The boat may have changed hands multiple times, so it can sometimes take FWC time to track down the current owner to recover the costs. If you see someone abandoning a boat like you experienced then you should contact FWC to report it.