Sea Turtle Weekly Activity Report

Beach activities worth noting year-round, as they are part of Marco’s Regulation of the Use and Conduct on the Beach:

Sec. 54-36(d) “Wheeled Vehicles” – the use of wheeled vehicles other than emergency safety vehicles, turtles nest monitoring, ATVs, and similar wheeled vehicles used for vendor operation, baby stroller, or equipment for mobility impaired persons is prohibited except by beach permit.” Bicycles are NOT allowed on the beach.

Section 54-36(i) –on Drone use: “Use of aircraft on beach or adjoining water is prohibited. No person, other than emergency, public safety, or mosquito control personnel, shall operate an aircraft, including seaplanes, ultra-lights, or helicopters, on or from the beach or the water within 750 feet from the beach.”

In definitions: Aircraft means any motor vehicle or contrivance now known or hereinafter invented, which is used or designed for navigation of or flight in the air, except a parachute or other contrivance designed for such navigation but used primarily as safety equipment. The term "aircraft" shall include ultra-light aircraft and seaplanes.

Under the Nightly Beach Activity Report for Sea Turtle Season, drone use is an activity to be monitored, which includes the use of drones to deliver bait fish for shark fishing. In Florida, drone fishing is regulated and has specific guidelines. While drones can be used to deliver bait for shark fishing, there are important restrictions to consider:

• Anglers must ensure that their drone operations comply with FWC regulations to avoid fines.
• Anglers who fly drones over the water also have to comply with layers of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations.
• Any recreational drone weighing more than 0.55 pounds (250 grams) must be registered through the FAA’s DroneZone portal.
• Most drones used for fishing easily exceed this weight threshold once you factor in the camera and battery.
• For night fishing, drones are required by the FAA to have anti-collision lighting visible from at least three statute nautical miles with sufficient flash rate to be seen by other aircraft. During sea turtle season, lighting has to be sea turtle-friendly.
• If you are a fishing guide on the beach using a drone for paying clients, the FAA considers that a commercial operation, and recreational rules no longer apply.

The Nightly Beach Report started on May 1 (start of Sea Turtle Season), as an additional enforcement tool on the beach after 9:00 PM. Documentation includes building light violations, verbal warnings, and education given to groups using cell phone lights and flashlights, and manmade moveable objects such as beach chairs, coolers, towels, buckets, wagons, and kayaks.