Hundreds of docks are being built for Palm Beach County real estate now that the federal government has lifted a marine-construction moratorium that had been imposed to protect manatees. While developers say these projects support a vital part of South Florida real estate, environmentalists worry that the onslaught of boats will harm the slow-moving marine mammals even with protection measures in place.

The ban on marina construction had been imposed to protect manatees, which were being killed by boats in record numbers. In 1989 then-Gov. Bob Martinez ordered Broward, Palm Beach and 11 other coastal counties to prepare manatee protection plans. Although both South Florida counties completed elements of plans, such as speed zones, they failed to produce an essential component: Mapping out where future waterfront construction could and could not take place.

As the number of boats and manatee deaths continued to climb, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2001 starting holding up permits, eventually imposing a moratorium on commercial marine construction.

Shopping for that perfect home in a Boca Raton Real Estate Neighborhood? Realtor® Caesar Parisi is ready to help you buy your dream property.

click here for article

search for : ,