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A dolphin and pelican mingle in Fort Myers Beach waters, not far from where Fly Heli Tours has moved their barge for planned helicopter operations. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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There was heavy dolphin activity in Fort Myers Beach waters near Bowditch Point Regional Park on Friday, not far from where Fly Heli Tours has moved their barge to support planned helicopter tours over Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Dolphin activity on Fort Myers Beach, near where Fly Heli Tours has moved a barge further out towards the Gulf to support planned helicopter landings and takeoffs for helicopter tours over Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Dolphin activity on Fort Myers Beach, near where Fly Heli Tours has moved a barge further out towards the Gulf to support planned helicopter landings and takeoffs for helicopter tours over Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Dolphin activity on Fort Myers Beach, near where Fly Heli Tours has moved a barge further out towards the Gulf to support planned helicopter landings and takeoffs for helicopter tours over Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Dolphin activity on Fort Myers Beach, near where Fly Heli Tours has moved a barge further out towards the Gulf to support planned helicopter landings and takeoffs for helicopter tours over Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Fly Heli Tours owner Steve Overy has moved his barge for helicopter tours and landings further north from the area in the bay he was previously. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Dolphin activity in the area where Steve Overy has moved his barge, not far from Bowditch Point Regional Park and Bunche Beach Preserve. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Dolphin activity in the area where Steve Overy has moved his barge, not far from Bowditch Point Regional Park and Bunche Beach Preserve. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Fly Heli Tours owner Steve Overy has moved his barge for helicopter tours and landings further north from the area in the bay he was previously. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Fly Heli Tours owner Steve Overy has moved his barge for helicopter tours and landings further north from the area in the bay he was previously. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Fly Heli Tours owner Steve Overy has moved his barge for helicopter tours and landings further north from the area in the bay he was previously. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Dolphin activity on Fort Myers Beach, near where Fly Heli Tours has moved a barge to support planned helicopter landings and takeoffs for helicopter tours over Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Dolphin activity on Fort Myers Beach, near where Fly Heli Tours has moved a barge to support planned helicopter landings and takeoffs for helicopter tours over Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Dolphin activity on Fort Myers Beach, near where Fly Heli Tours has moved a barge to support planned helicopter landings and takeoffs for helicopter tours over Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Dolphin activity on Fort Myers Beach, near where Fly Heli Tours has moved a barge to support planned helicopter landings and takeoffs for helicopter tours over Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Dolphin activity on Fort Myers Beach, near where Fly Heli Tours has moved a barge to support planned helicopter landings and takeoffs for helicopter tours over Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Dolphin activity on Fort Myers Beach, near where Fly Heli Tours has moved a barge to support planned helicopter landings and takeoffs for helicopter tours over Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Dolphin activity on Fort Myers Beach, near where Fly Heli Tours has moved a barge further out towards the Gulf to support planned helicopter landings and takeoffs for helicopter tours over Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Dolphin activity on Fort Myers Beach, near where Fly Heli Tours has moved a barge further out towards the Gulf to support planned helicopter landings and takeoffs for helicopter tours over Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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A great blue heron art Bowditch Point Regional Park on Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Dolphin activity on Fort Myers Beach, near where Fly Heli Tours has moved a barge further out towards the Gulf to support planned helicopter landings and takeoffs for helicopter tours over Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Dolphin activity on Fort Myers Beach, near where Fly Heli Tours has moved a barge further out towards the Gulf to support planned helicopter landings and takeoffs for helicopter tours over Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Dolphin activity on Fort Myers Beach, near where Fly Heli Tours has moved a barge further out towards the Gulf to support planned helicopter landings and takeoffs for helicopter tours over Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Dolphin activity on Fort Myers Beach, near where Fly Heli Tours has moved a barge further out towards the Gulf to support planned helicopter landings and takeoffs for helicopter tours over Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Dolphin activity on Fort Myers Beach, near where Fly Heli Tours has moved a barge further out towards the Gulf to support planned helicopter landings and takeoffs for helicopter tours over Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Dolphin activity on Fort Myers Beach, near where Fly Heli Tours has moved a barge further out towards the Gulf to support planned helicopter landings and takeoffs for helicopter tours over Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Dolphin activity on Fort Myers Beach, near where Fly Heli Tours has moved a barge further out towards the Gulf to support planned helicopter landings and takeoffs for helicopter tours over Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Dolphin activity on Fort Myers Beach, near where Fly Heli Tours has moved a barge further out towards the Gulf to support planned helicopter landings and takeoffs for helicopter tours over Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Dolphin activity on Fort Myers Beach, near where Fly Heli Tours has moved a barge further out towards the Gulf to support planned helicopter landings and takeoffs for helicopter tours over Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Fly Heli Tours owner Steve Overy issued a statement today after moving his barge further north of the bay, which he said is closer to the Gulf.
The barge is not far from Bowditch Point Regional Park on Fort Myers Beach, though Overy said on Friday it is not any closer to the park than it was before. Overy declined to discuss the vessel further.
The waters near the park and not far from Overy’s barge was the scene of heavy dolphin and bird activity on Friday afternoon. Environmentalists have expressed concern for the noise impacts the helicopter will have on dolphins, manatees and birds in the area. The waters are close to a known dolphin nursery and the location of Overy’s vessel is not far from the state-designated Matanzas Island Critical Wildlife Area and Bunch Beach Park Preserve.
Overy’s statement and movement of the barge followed a meeting of the Fort Myers Beach Marine and Environmental Resources Task Force on Wednesday that he attended. At the meeting, the task force voted unanimously to recommend to the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council that the town work with Overy on moving the barge to a more compatible location.
On Friday, Overy issued the following statement:
“I want to be clear and transparent with the Fort Myers Beach community: we listened. After hearing concerns from local residents, I took those comments seriously and made the decision to voluntarily move our helicopter operations vessel out of the back bay and closer to the Gulf of America.
This decision was not mandated. Our operations have always been legal, safe, and compliant with all applicable regulations. However, I believe that responsible business ownership goes beyond simply meeting legal requirements. It means listening to the community and being willing to adapt when concerns are raised.
My goal has always been to operate in a way that is respectful, neighbor-friendly, and mindful of both residents and the surrounding environment.
I appreciate the dialogue with local residents and remain committed to working collaboratively with the community as Fly Heli continues to operate responsibly.”
Attached at top is a photo gallery taken of where Overy has moved the barge as seen from Bowditch Point Regional Park on Fort Myers Beach on Friday. There was a lot of dolphin and bird activity in the waters not far from where the barge has now been anchored.
All photos taken Friday by Fort Myers Beach Observer Editor Nathan Mayberg
Fort Myers Beach Observer Editor Nathan Mayberg can be reached at NMayberg@breezenewspapers.com