FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — Abandoned boats are being removed from St. Lucie County waterways as part of a year-long effort to protect the Indian River Lagoon and keep boaters safe.
So far, county officials say 18 abandoned vessels have been removed, with others still under investigation or waiting for approval before they can be taken out of the water.
At Harbour Pointe Park in Fort Pierce, one red speed boat has been sitting for months. The vessel is currently on an administrative hold with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, but county officials say it is targeted for removal. There is no timeline yet, as the process to remove abandoned boats can take months.
Erick Gill, communications director for St. Lucie County said boats like this can end up abandoned for many reasons, after storms, when owners move away, or when they can no longer afford insurance or maintenance.
Gill said boats left in the water can quickly turn into serious environmental and safety concerns. “The county and the state are worried about it being a navigational hazard as well as environmental concerns,” Gill said.
Left unattended, abandoned vessels can leak fuel, oil, or wastewater into the Indian River Lagoon. They can also break free during storms, damaging docks, navigation markers, or other boats.
“We do the best we can to get them out of the waterway as soon as possible, but it is a lengthy process,” Gill said.
It’s also an expensive one. This year alone, more than $97,000 was spent removing abandoned vessels in St. Lucie County. About $75,000 of that cost was covered by state grant programs through Florida Fish and Wildlife and the Florida Inland Navigation District.
Gill says protecting the lagoon is critical for the county. “The Indian River Lagoon is a very valuable resource for the county from a tourism perspective, from those that live on the water, as well as a fisheries resource,” he said. “So we want to make sure we protect it.”
Before a vessel can be removed, Florida Fish and Wildlife must track down the owner and go through due process to formally declare the boat abandoned — a step that can take months. In addition to the 18 vessels already removed, three more are currently under investigation.
“Our main concern is environmental protection and safety for vessels going up and down the inlet,” Gill said. “We don’t want anybody to run into these things.”
To help prevent more boats from being left behind, the county has also created anchoring limitation areas in the Fort Pierce Inlet. Under the new rule, boaters can only anchor 45 consecutive days within a six-month period before they are required to move at least one mile away.
County officials say the abandoned vessel removal program will continue into 2026. They also encourage residents to report abandoned boats directly to Florida Fish and Wildlife to start the investigation process.