St. Lucie County adopts ordinance creating anchoring limitation areas, pairs with Fort Pierce for on-water enforcement

St. Lucie County commissioners on July 22 adopted an ordinance amending chapter 50 of the county code to establish anchoring limitation areas and approved an interlocal agreement with the City of Fort Pierce to help implement and enforce the new rule. The ordinance establishes definitions, applicability, exemptions and the county’s authority to create ALAs, with staff and Fort Pierce responsible for day-to-day presence on the water and coordination with law enforcement and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). “The ordinance provides definitions, applicability and establishes the anchoring limitation areas and also provides for exemptions,” Assistant County Attorney Jean Stasio said during the hearing. The board’s action follows months of discussion about how to manage vessels that anchor in key navigation…