>> WITH THIS NEW VIDEO OF A BOATER SPEEDING THROUGH A MANATEE ZONE ON THE CALOOSAHATCHEE. THIS IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE CAPE CORAL YACHT CLUB. IF YOU’RE IN A MANATEE ZONE, IT’S THE LAW TO GO SLOW AND LOOK BELOW. NOW THE COMPANY THAT OWNS THE BOAT SAYS THEY HAD NO IDEA THAT THEY COULDN’T SPEED THERE. GULF COAST NEWS REPORTER DANIELA GRAND PIER HAS THE STORY. >> SPEEDING BOATERS ARE A PROBLEM. THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND. NO WAKE ZONE IS A NO WAKE YOU’RE LOOKING AT A VIDEO OF A SPEEDBOAT ZIPPING THROUGH WATERS MARCH WITH MANATEE ZONE. SO SPEED. DON’T KNOW. MAN TEENS WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS VIDEO. IT COMES AS MANATEE DEATHS ARE SPIKING IN LEE COUNTY. FWC DATA SHOWS LEE COUNTY HAS THE SECOND HIGHEST NUMBER OF MANATEE DEATHS THIS YEAR. SAVE THE MANATEE GROUP SAYS THE SEA COWS CAN’T DO MUCH TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM SPEED VOTERS ARE AND WHAT ARE WAYS WHERE BO DOES OPERATING AS WELL. AND THE VOTERS ARE GOING AT A VERY HIGH SPEED. THEY WOULD BE HARD TIME GETTING OUT OF THE WAY. AND I REACHED OUT TO INLAND MARINE RACING. THE COMPANY MARKED ON THE BOAT. THEY SAY THEY WERE UNAWARE THEY WERE IN A MANATEE ZONE AND APOLOGIZE. >> THEY TOLD ME THEY WILL ACTUALLY STOP THE RACE IF THERE’S ANY SEE LIFE AS AN MANATEES OR ANYTHING THAT MAY BE THREATENED. >> WE DO TAKE SIGNIFICANT STEPS TO PREVENT INJURY TO ANIMALS. AND WE DO APOLOGIZE FOR ANY ISSUES. IT COSTS, PEOPLE SPENDING THEIR DANCE AND HERE AT THE YACHT CLUB COMMUNITY PARK, TOMMY VOTERS, LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR SPEEDING. THEY SAY SOME POINT IF ALL THE SIGNS NOT ONLY FOR THE SAFETY OF VOTERS, BUT ALSO WILDLIFE. >> AND ONE WAY TO CATCH THEM IS WITH SPEED CAMERA LIKE THEY HAVE IN FRONT OF OUR SCHOOLS NOW TO PROTECT OUR KIDS. LET’S PROTECT THE MANATEES AND GET SOME KEEP CAMERAS OUT THERE AND THE CONSEQUENCES WILL BE FELT IN SLOWER BOATS AND LESS MEANT HE ADVOCATES. I TALKED TO SAY THERE IS NO LEGAL PUNISHMENT IF A VOTER ACCIDENTALLY HITS A MANATEE. >> HOWEVER, THERE CAN BE FINED FOR SPEEDING IN A SL
Speeding boat in Cape Coral raises concerns for manatee safety
Updated: 8:29 PM EDT Oct 9, 2025
A speed boat was caught on camera racing through a “manatee zone, slow speed” area in Cape Coral.Manatee deaths are rising in Lee County, which has the second-highest rate of manatee deaths this year, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.”On average, they only move about like 3 to 5 mph. So, oftentimes, when they are in waterways where boats are operating as well, and the boat is going at a very high speed, they have a really hard time getting out of the way in time. Even if they hear the boat coming,” said Cora Berchem from Save the Manatee Club, a nonprofit group for protecting the sea cows. Inland Marine Racing, the company marked on the boat, stated they were unaware they were in a manatee zone and apologized.”We have a significant presence, including a full-time helicopter to monitor and preserve the wildlife and the aquatic life for the safety of the animal, and in some cases, they will actually stop the race if there’s any sea life as manatees or anything that may be threatened,” the company said in a statement.Community members at the Yacht Club Community Park expressed concerns about the lack of accountability for speeding boaters, stressing the importance of adhering to signs to ensure the safety of both boaters and wildlife.”One way to catch them is with a speed camera like we have in front of our schools now to protect our kids,” said Ginny Kildoyle of Cape Coral. “Let’s protect the manatees and get some speed cameras out there, and the consequences will result in slower boats and fewer manatees injured.” Osbear Duarte, also from Cape Coral, shared his concerns, saying, “I don’t like the fact that there are people who are so irresponsible, driving at those speeds. I worry a lot about the animals, and I constantly observe the area and it’s not usual for people to go at that speed.”Save the Manatee Club noted that while there is no legal punishment if a boater accidentally hits a manatee, there can be fines for speeding in a slow speed zone.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
CAPE CORAL, Fla. —
A speed boat was caught on camera racing through a “manatee zone, slow speed” area in Cape Coral.
Manatee deaths are rising in Lee County, which has the second-highest rate of manatee deaths this year, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
“On average, they only move about like 3 to 5 mph. So, oftentimes, when they are in waterways where boats are operating as well, and the boat is going at a very high speed, they have a really hard time getting out of the way in time. Even if they hear the boat coming,” said Cora Berchem from Save the Manatee Club, a nonprofit group for protecting the sea cows.
Inland Marine Racing, the company marked on the boat, stated they were unaware they were in a manatee zone and apologized.
“We have a significant presence, including a full-time helicopter to monitor and preserve the wildlife and the aquatic life for the safety of the animal, and in some cases, they will actually stop the race if there’s any sea life as manatees or anything that may be threatened,” the company said in a statement.
Community members at the Yacht Club Community Park expressed concerns about the lack of accountability for speeding boaters, stressing the importance of adhering to signs to ensure the safety of both boaters and wildlife.
“One way to catch them is with a speed camera like we have in front of our schools now to protect our kids,” said Ginny Kildoyle of Cape Coral. “Let’s protect the manatees and get some speed cameras out there, and the consequences will result in slower boats and fewer manatees injured.”
Osbear Duarte, also from Cape Coral, shared his concerns, saying, “I don’t like the fact that there are people who are so irresponsible, driving at those speeds. I worry a lot about the animals, and I constantly observe the area and it’s not usual for people to go at that speed.”
Save the Manatee Club noted that while there is no legal punishment if a boater accidentally hits a manatee, there can be fines for speeding in a slow speed zone.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.