Pretty much everything that is illegal at home and would lead to the fall of Ontario society is OK to do anywhere anytime in Key West. With the obvious exception of Pot ( δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol ). You can also do these activities on pseudo trains, golf carts or aimlessly walking about the city. Hoards of tourists including sailors, liverboards, rubber tired, cruise ship and local participants mill about among the bars, restaurants and T-shirts…
We did our obligatory walk down Duval Street while sipping on our Flying Monkey frozen drink. This was a scouting mission for us. I did want to stop by my favourite hardware store and my most favourite store of the Ace Hardware chain, Shrunk’s Ace Hardware (Key West).
I just finished my breakfast, a left-over omelet (ham and asparagus ( the eggs were fresh )). It was pretty good. We are in the early stages of a wave of T-storms passing through. I don’t mind these as we are securely attached to the Stock Island Marina dock system.
I know most of you are asking yourselves the question, “what about Bob”? Well, rest assured that he joined us for lunch and he helped with the banned substances investigation. We had a too much food lunch and carried a goodly bit back to our boats for extended review later.
From the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission:
For your information
To avoid charges of harassment (of Manatees), DO NOT:
- give food to manatees
- use water to attract manatees to your boat, dock or marina (etc.) where manatees may be harmed
- separate a cow and her calf
- disturb manatee mating herds
- pursue manatees or chase them from warm water sites
- disturb resting manatees
- hit, injure or harm manatees
- jump on, stand on, hold on to or ride manatees
- grab or kick manatees
- block a manatee’s path if one or more moves toward you
- hunt or kill manatees
- use your vessel to pursue or harass manatees
- “fish” for or attempt to hook or catch manatees
Manatees and the law
Manatees are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978. It is illegal to feed, harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, annoy or molest manatees.
The state of Florida has also established regulatory speed zones to protect the manatee and its habitat. The zones are located where manatees live or travel regularly or seasonally.
Anyone convicted of violating state law faces maximum fines of $500 and/or imprisonment of up to 60 days. Conviction for violating federal protection laws is punishable by fines up to $100,000 and/or one year in prison.