The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Vessel Turn-In Program removed its 100th unwanted boat from Wakulla County.
Since the program’s inception in 2022, FWC has received 186 applications from owners of at-risk or unwanted vessels.
“We know that for a number of reasons some boat owners are unable or unwilling to maintain their vessels,” Capt. Travis Franklin, FWC boating and waterways derelict vessel removal and prevention unit leader, said in a statement. “These boats then become derelict or at-risk of becoming derelict. … This is where the VTIP program comes in.”
The voluntary program helps owners dispose of unwanted, at-risk boats before they become derelict. After an application is approved, the surrendered boat is disposed of at no cost to the boat owner.
To qualify, boats must be floating on Florida waters and must not have been determined derelict by law enforcement. The owner must have at least one written warning or citation for an at-risk condition and possess a clear title for the boat.
