A day after hotels, campgrounds and short-term vacation rentals shut down, Monroe County officials announced the closure of public boat ramps to visitors on Monday amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Locals who are looking to get their boats into the water will still be able to use the public access points. Discussions are still being had over enforcement of the new closure, but IDs will likely need to be seen before the boat gets to the water.
The move comes after what was a rather busy weekend at the boat ramps, especially in the Upper Keys where daytrippers and weekenders tend to pack popular sandbars on the oceanside and bayside.
Reports from patrols say there were more than 100 boats spotted out on the sandbar off Whale Harbor during the afternoon hours on Saturday. The next day, around 75 were seen.
“From what officers were telling me, it was normal in what you would see on a Saturday and Sunday,” said Florida Fish and Wildlife Public Information Officer Bobby Dube.
The move also comes days after Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez, shutdown all boat ramps and marinas, with exceptions for commercial fishermen. The order was handed down last Saturday after video surfaced on social media of a large number of boats congregating.
“These sacrifices in our social lives are critical now in order to defeat COVID-19,” Gimenez said in a statement.
FWC and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office both say they’re working together to patrol popular sandbars and social areas on the water to ensure boats aren’t rafting up and ignoring social distancing instructions. In addition, deputies and FWC officers will be increasing patrols on Saturday and Sunday, which are usually high-traffic days.
One of the busier private boat ramps in the Upper Keys, Caribbean Club, announced that only residents would be allowed in a move to conform with Monroe County directives.
In Islamorada, the boat ramp at Indian Key Fill and the Plantation Yacht Marina Boat ramp and fuel docks are closed to everyone except marina residents. And no new vessels are being admitted into the marina.
City of Marathon is following the county’s directive. Ramps will be closed to visitors and locals must show ID.
All state parks in the Keys are closed.
County officials also made the decision Monday to close fishing bridges to everyone. They’re still open to walkers and runners, however.
