Southeast Cape Coral resident Carol Fernandez has lived in the area for 20 years and enjoys relaxing boat days with her husband. However, what should have been a peaceful outing has been overshadowed by multiple abandoned boats sitting off Rosen Park Marina.

“I’m just afraid of, if this is what we can see, then what are the ones that we don’t know are down there?” Fernandez said, pointing to the deteriorating vessels.

Fernandez says the boats have been sitting there since Hurricane Ian, and she’s tried to get them removed.

“I didn’t even know if I was in the right department. I call the 311 call center, and then they also refer you out to someone else,” she said.

Concerned about the impact on the waterways, Fernandez reached out to WINK News, prompting a closer look. On the water, the boats are hard to miss, some half-sunken and slowly falling apart. Residents have watched them degrade over the years and worry about what’s leaking into the water below.

Experts say those concerns are valid. FGCU marine biology professor Dr. Melissa May explained that derelict boats pose a serious threat to marine life. “They also tend to leak lots of different contaminants into the water. So if they’re filled with fuel, the fuel can leak out over time,” May said. She added that “the longer they sit, the bigger the impacts on the marine environment that they’re going to have.”

After seeing the boats firsthand, WINK News reached out to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. FWC confirmed they are aware of two derelict vessels near Rosen Park Marina. One is awaiting removal by a licensed contractor, while the other is still under investigation.

FWC says derelict vessels are a priority. The agency works first with owners to remove or repair boats, then uses public funds if necessary. They also partner with local governments and contractors to ensure safe removal.

For neighbors like Fernandez, however, the presence of these boats remains a personal concern. “It’s a constant reminder of what we all have been trying to forget and put in the past,” she said.

FWC encourages anyone who spots an abandoned or derelict boat to report it at 888-404-FWCC.