FWC official says derelict-vessel removals have increased after recent hurricanes; ARPA funds obligated through 2026

Lieutenant Rob Rowe, of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, told the Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government that derelict vessels remain a persistent problem across Florida’s waterways and that hurricane seasons produced sharp increases in cases.

Rowe said the commission’s statewide derelict-vessel database contained “a little under” 1,000 active cases and that “we have 579 of these cases that have been authorized for removal.” He added that the state has recorded about 1,268 derelict-vessel citations over the last five years.

The report to the committee noted annual averages and drivers. “Annually, approximately 600 derelict-vessel cases are entered into our database each year,” Rowe said. He told senators that hurricanes Helene, Milton and Debby contributed a large share of recent removals and that the state now has more registered vessels than any other state — “just over 1,000,000 registered vessels statewide,” he said.

Rowe described the legal definition used by FWC for a derelict vessel and reasons owners often abandon boats, including neglect, lack of end-of-life options and displacement after storms. He said the commission treats leaving “a vessel upon the waters of the state in a derelict condition” as a crime: “Leaving a vessel upon the waters of the state in a derelict condition is a crime,” Rowe said.

To speed removals, FWC has used a mix of approaches: direct removals, 100% reimbursement grants for local governments, a prequalified RFP contractor list of about 20 firms, and a block-grant option for experienced local applicants so boats can be removed before full paperwork is submitted. Rowe also highlighted a voluntary turn-in program (VTIP) approved in 2022; he said the agency has received over 250 VTIP applications and removed 145 VTIP vessels to date.

Rowe told committee members that the commission obligated all ARPA funds it received for vessel removal and does not foresee issues spending those funds through 2026. He said 12 temporary OPS staff paid with ARPA dollars were critical to processing cases and warned that those positions would likely be needed beyond the ARPA funding window to maintain current removal tempo.

Senators asked about impediments to faster removal. Rowe identified two main constraints: (1) a statutorily required notification and due-process timeline that cannot be shortened because of judicial precedent, and (2) contractor scheduling and payment processing after investigations are complete. He said the agency has looked for alternatives but must respect constitutional due process timelines set by the courts.

The presentation included maps and county-level counts showing concentrations in Brevard and Monroe counties and a chart showing vessel counts spiking after storm landfalls. Rowe said the commission works with the Department of Emergency Management on post-storm removals.

The committee discussion closed without action on the program. The committee thanked Rowe and moved on to the next agenda item.