Florida makes its mark as the boating capital of the world

ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida has now solidified its place as the boating capital of the world after the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced more than 1 million registered vessels in the Sunshine State.

Along with the announcement, FWC said it’s important that residents and visitors practice safe boating.

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“Crossing the million mark just confirms what we always knew, Florida is the top state for boaters. And with more boats on the water, we want to spread the word about boating safety to both residents and visitors enjoying Florida’s year-round boating season,” said Maj. Rob Beaton, FWC Boating and Waterways Section Leader. “A safe day while boating is a great day. Nothing can ruin a fun and memorable experience on the water faster than a boating accident.”

Boaters are encouraged to wear their life jackets, maintain 360-degree awareness and know the dangers and penalties for operating a vessel while impaired.

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“Life-changing tragedies happen because individuals choose to operate a boat while impaired. Those tragedies are preventable,” said Beaton. “As law enforcement, it is our job to do all we can to ensure the safety of all boaters.”

The top five counties for vessel registration in Florida are Miami-Dade (74,622), Pinellas (53,867), Lee (50,304), Broward (47,741) and Hillsborough (41,495).

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For more information, check out MyFWC.com/Boating.

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