Tips for Boaters and Fishermen

• bring your trash to shore and recycle it.


• avoid collecting fish - most die within one year.


• avoid harassing fish and invertebrates; it only makes them wary of people.


• it is illegal to dump trash at sea; plastic bags and other debris can injure marine animals. try to retrieve fishing gear and equipment, especially lines.


• accidental boat groundings damage the reef. prop damage destroys shallow seagrass beds. consult tide & navigation charts and steer clear of shallow areas. remember, "Brown, brown, run aground. blue, blue, sail on through."


• use reef mooring buoys if available. otherwise, anchor in sandy areas away from coral and seagrasses so that anchor and chain do not drag or grate on nearby corals or tear-up seagrass beds.


• practice good seamanship, and safe boating. maintain a safe distance from fisherman. know and observe size and catch limits; release any fish you can't eat.


• avoid wildlife disturbance by staying at least 200 feet offshore, keeping speed and noise to a minimum, and avoiding boat wakes near isolated mangroves.


• camping, campfires, and collecting of any kind is prohibited on all National wildlife Refuges. personal watercraft and airboats are prohibited in all National Parks.