- December 16, 2025
For almost a year, county staff has wrestled with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission to reduce its manatee speed zone proposals, and has done so successfully.
From an initial proposal of 6.7 slow-zone miles, enforced seven months out of the year, the state agency’s proposal is now down to 2.7 miles, enforced just four months of the year. Still, residents lobbied the first of two FWC public hearings on the revised proposal last night, Feb. 29, at the Government Services Building, in opposition of the regulation.
“There have been no (manatee) deaths in Flagler County since 2009 — from any cause,” said Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts. “We’ve solving a problem that I don’t think is a local problem.”
Although there were supporters — Save the Manatee Club Science and Conservation Director Katie Tripp cited the amount of compromise the FWC has already offered on its original plan — anti-slow-zone boaters made up the majority.
“It’s just dang inconvenient, and it will keep people off the water,” said Jed Gardner, of Flagler Beach.
According to Chris Boland, FWC engineer, the slow zones would add an addition 15 minutes of water travel time from one end of the county to another.
The next hearing is tentatively scheduled for April 25 or 26, in Crystal River.
See the Saturday, March 3, edition of the Palm Coast Observer for more.
For past manatee-speed-zone coverage, CLICK HERE.
