SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. (SNN) — Speed monitoring on the Suncoast goes beyond law enforcement.
Mote Marine Laboratory is using laser speed guns to gather data on boating behaviors as part of its two-year-old Sea Turtle Protection Zone initiative.
Sea turtles are a year-round presence in the waters of Southwest Florida, increasing the risk of collisions with boats.
Mote scientists identified boat strike risk areas along Sarasota’s coast and launched the Sea Turtle Protection Zone, a voluntary initiative covering Longboat Key to Siesta Key, including Sarasota Bay.
“We have two spots out in the gulf that we are taking speeds, we have one point in Mid Bay, one in Big Pass, and another one that we actually are taking them from the fishing pier right under the John Ringling bridge,” said Mote’s Stranding Investigations Program Manager Gretchen Lovewell. “We found speeds in an excess of 60 miles an hour.”
Mote began using the speed guns in July with the goal of reducing sea turtle-boat collisions.
The data is helping them assess the effectiveness of their outreach efforts within the community.
“Are we effective in our communication, are we getting through to people, are we getting through to the right people? And if we’re not seeing a change, what can we do to reach people better?” said Lovewell.
The speed guns not only measure boaters’ speeds, but also track the number of boats passing through each zone.
“The minute there’s not someone there watching the animal, it becomes kind of a needle in a haystack,” said Lovewell.
Mote suggests boaters take extra precautions on the water.
“If you have a wildlife spotter, and you wear polarized glasses, that really increases your opportunity to see his animals. Be a sea turtle, a manatee, a tarpon, anything. And then going slow enough so you give those animals a chance to move or you have a chance to see them,” said Lovewell.
Mote met with county officials last week, and is working on placing signage in hotspots where there may be more turtles.
If you hit a turtle or see something of concern, you’re asked to call Mote Marine at 888-345-2335 and wait with the animal if possible.
