Florida's beaches are a major attraction for nearly 19 million tourists every year, and they come to the beaches to relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of natural beauty. Others visit nearby beaches and waters for boating, fishing, diving and other recreational activities, making Florida's beaches an integral part of the state's economy. The beaches of the Florida Keys tend to have clear, shallow waters, making them more suitable for wading than for swimming. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection's beach programs have the primary mission of protecting, restoring and managing Florida's coastal systems.
The Beach Management Financial Assistance Program (BMFAP) works together with local sponsors to achieve the protection, preservation, restoration and nutrition of sandy beaches that face the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and the Strait of Florida, and to manage the inlets to reproduce the natural drift of sand interrupted by improved, modified or altered inlets. When visiting a beach in Northwest Florida, boat operators must take into account certain regulations set by the state. To ensure safety and protect the environment, it is important to maintain a distance of at least 300 feet from flags with divers in open water and at least 100 feet away from any other type of boat or beach. Additionally, boats must stay at least 200 meters away from any beach or cliff area when swimming is allowed.
Throughout the summer season, the seaside area is exclusively for swimmers. To ensure that everyone is safe while enjoying the beach, Florida law requires people born on or after January 1, 1988 to complete a NASBLA-approved boating education course before operating a boat powered by a 10 horsepower engine or more. To protect, preserve and manage Florida's valuable sandy beaches and adjacent coastal systems, the Florida Legislature passed the Florida Beach and Coast Preservation Act. Activities that require a joint coastal permit (JCP) include the restoration or nutrition of beaches; the construction of erosion control structures; public fishing docks; the maintenance of inlets and structures related to the inlets; and the dredging of navigation channels that include the disposal of dredged material on the beach or in the area near the coast.
It is important to note that anyone operating a boat powered by 10 horsepower engine or more must have a valid Florida Boating Safety Identification Card. By following these regulations when visiting a beach in Northwest Florida, boat operators can help protect both people and nature.
