§ 2-32-8. Manatee protection areas established.

The county hereby establishes the areas of regulated water activity identified below for the purpose of protecting manatees, in which no owner, operator or person in command of any vessel shall permit said vessel to be operated or operate said vessel in violation of the restrictions set forth in this section. The boundaries of the areas of regulated water activity established herein shall be as depicted and delineated in the manatee protection watercourse map established pursuant to section 2-32-14(b).

(a)

Slow speed zones for manatee protection purposes. The following areas are designated as slow speed zones for manatee protection purposes:

(1)

Shoreline manatee protection areas. All areas generally within three hundred (300) feet (one hundred (100) yards) from a shoreline, except where the contour of the shoreline requires a lesser or greater distance to maintain an even contour to such manatee protection area, and except the shorelines of the Lower Manatee River; Tampa Bay south of Bishop Harbor to Rattlesnake Key; the northern tip of Perico Island; the channel east of Key Royale;

(2)

Upper Manatee River manatee protection area. All of the Manatee River adjacent to and east of the area known as the "Fort Hamer boat ramp", upstream to the Lake Manatee Dam, and all of the Manatee River at or east of the I-75 bridge and west of the Fort Hamer boat ramp, except in regulated channels and historical recreation areas;

(3)

Lower Manatee River manatee protection areas. All areas within five hundred (500) feet from a shoreline, except where the contour of the shoreline requires a lesser or greater distance to maintain an even contour to such manatee protection area, on the Manatee River west of the I-75 bridge, and further from the shoreline, as specifically marked, near the Snead Island cut;

(4)

Special manatee protection areas. The areas (except the intracoastal waterway and the areas within one hundred (100) feet of either side of the intracoastal waterway) beyond three hundred (300) feet of the shoreline, except where the contour of the shoreline requires a lesser or greater distance to maintain an even contour to any such manatee protection area, that are designated as "Slow Speed Zones" on the manatee protection watercourse map, including, but not limited to: areas in Tampa Bay north of Bishop Harbor channel; Bishop Harbor; Moses Hole; Clambar Bay; Williams Bayou, northern Miguel Bay; parts of Anna Maria Sound; Palma Sola Bay; Warner's Bayou and Sarasota Bay;

(5)

Braden River manatee protection area. The Braden River, bank to bank, from three hundred (300) feet north of the State Road 64/Manatee Avenue Bridge to three hundred (300) feet south of said bridge and upstream of that point, except in regulated channels and regulated corridors; and

(6)

Terra Ceia Bay manatee protection area. Terra Ceia Bay in the areas designated as "Slow Speed Zones" on the manatee protection watercourse map.

Any owner, operator or person in command of a vessel who permits operation of such vessel in excess of slow speed in any of the above-designated slow speed zones, unless exempt pursuant to section 2-32-11, shall be guilty of a violation of this article.

(b)

State manatee protection areas. Manatee County hereby adopts the state manatee protection restrictions for Terra Ceia Bay, Buttonwood Harbor, and any other areas of county waters upon which the state imposes rules and regulations for the protection of manatees pursuant to Florida Statutes Section 370.12(2). Such rules are incorporated herein by reference. No owner, operator or person in command of a vessel shall permit said vessel to be operated or operate said vessel in contravention of such state regulations if the regulated waters have been appropriately marked with signage.

(c)

Municipal manatee protection areas. Manatee County hereby adopts regulations of waters upon which municipalities have properly imposed manatee protection restrictions and appropriately posted regulatory signage pursuant to Florida Statutes Section 370.12(2). The municipal restrictions, including those now in effect and any that may be imposed by a municipality in the future, are incorporated herein by reference.

(d)

Other county restrictions. In any area upon county waters where the county has imposed restrictions in addition to or different from the restrictions imposed pursuant to this article, the more stringent restrictions shall control.

(Ord. No. 08-68, § 3(Exh. A), 8-12-08)