CJ and I had an opportunity to speak at the last East Coast Rendezvous about anchoring and derelict vessel management, so I thought this follow-up might be of interest to some of you. Earlier this week, we met with three senior officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in Tallahassee to discuss anchoring rights, at-risk vessels, and derelict vessel management in Florida. We covered a lot of ground, and I would be happy to share some of the highlights in future posts if there is interest.
My biggest takeaway from the meeting was how approachable they were and how willing they were to listen. That has been a recurring theme with nearly everyone I have personally dealt with at FWC. They suggested setting up regular meetings so we can continue sharing information, discussing issues important to Florida boaters, and better understanding how FWC approaches these challenges. I think that is a very positive development.
One of the topics we discussed was Florida’s ongoing effort to address at-risk and derelict vessels. The FWC team shared some interesting data about the progress they have made removing derelict vessels from state waters, as well as the programs designed to prevent at-risk vessels from becoming derelict in the first place.
Here are a few numbers I found particularly interesting:
• There are currently 396 documented derelict vessels (DVs) on state waters.
• At the end of 2023, there were more than 900 DVs. By the end of 2025, that number had fallen to just over 400.
• Since 2023, FWC has removed approximately 2,100 DVs, excluding hurricane-related vessels, at a cost of approximately $36.5 million.
• In 2025 alone, FWC removed 479 DVs at a cost of approximately $11.5 million, or an average of about $24,000 per vessel.
• Following hurricanes Ian, Helene, and Milton, nearly 1,000 DVs were removed with assistance from the Federal Division of Emergency Management.
• Since VTIP (see link below for more information) began in March 2023, approximately $3.5 million has been spent on voluntary vessel removals, at an average cost of approximately $12,700 per vessel.
Those numbers show just how much progress has been made. In roughly 3 1/2 years, FWC has removed more than 2,100 derelict vessels, not including nearly 1,000 hurricane-related removals, while reducing the number of documented DVs on state waters to 396. There is still work to do, but FWC has made significant progress in addressing a problem that affects navigation, the environment, and responsible boaters throughout Florida.
For more information about FWC Vessel Turn-In Program (VTIP), visit: https://myfwc.com/boating/waterway/vtip/
For more information about anchoring in Florida, visit: https://boatersrightscoalition.org/
If folks find this interesting, please let me know. I have much more information from this meeting I would be happy to share.
Please pass along any questions or comments.
Stick and CJ Higginbotham
M/V Trilogy
2001 Selene 4311
Currently Docked in Stuart, FL