ADVENTURES OF A FISH AND WILDLIFE OFFICER

Boating is safer, Florida’s natural resources are protected

Boating is safer, Florida’s natural resources are protected

In 1966, Estero Bay was designated Florida’s first aquatic preserve. Land was placed in conservation to buffer the bay from encroaching development. Estero Bay provides great fishing, recreational and boating opportunities, and of course conservation areas need management and protection to maintain their ecological functions. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission greatly helps protect these types of areas in the state. To fully understand how the commission does its job, I took a boat ride in Estero Bay last August with FWC Officer Stuart Spoede.

Initially I had no idea how diverse and demanding the job

is for these dedicated officers. In Southwest Florida, the enforcement division is divided into a North Water Squad, South Water Squad, and an Inland Squad. Spoede is part of the South Water Squad. His primary patrol area is Lee County and adjacent state and federal waters, but he could be called upon to work anywhere in Florida.

One of Spoede’s primary duties is enforcing boating safety violations. This includes observing that boaters operate vessels in a safe manner, have current vessel registration, obey lower speed limits and minimum wake zones, and have proper safety equipment such as life jackets and fire extinguishers. Another important duty is resource protection. Spoede verifies that anglers have fishing licenses and obey state regulations for fish seasonal size limits, daily bag limits, possession limits and other legal requirements. Many fish species are legally protected, including spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus), redfish (Sciaenops ocellatus), common snook (Centropomus undecimalis) and mangrove snapper (Lutgenus sriseus). More game and fish violations take place at night than in the daytime. Thus the FWC operates 24 hours a day, including undercover enforcement for illegal activities such as gill netting for Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus). Illegal netters can make thousands of dollars a night.

Spoede’s duties not only include inshore fisheries protection, but also offshore patrolling—day and night. Some of the offshore fisheries targeted for protection include the

greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili), red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus), mangrove snapper, mutton snapper (L. analis), red grouper (Epinephelus morio) and black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci). Additionally, Spoede provides assistance for multiple types of response calls. This can include boating and personal watercraft accidents, disabled boats and personal watercraft, participating in the nine-day hunt at Cecil Webb Wildlife Management Area, helping with tranquilizing and relocating Florida black bears (Ursus americanus floridanus) and aiding in other wildlife issues. For example, he has provided assistance for the short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhyncus), West Indian manatee (Florida manatee) (Trichechus manatus latirostris), Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi), gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), osprey (Pandion haliaetus), brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), bald

eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), loggerhead sea turtle (Careta careta) and several species of shorebirds. Spoede also responds to sea turtle and shorebird protection enclosure violations. Sea turtle eggs are occasionally dug up and stolen. Sea turtle and shorebird nests and eggs are legally protected. Sometimes, overzealous photographers and beach visitors enter and disturb shorebird nesting enclosures. Some people allow their dogs inside the enclosures, destroying nests and killing nestlings. The enclosures are located on the beaches of Sanibel and Captiva, Fort Myers Beach and other beaches and offshore islands. Snowy plovers (Charadrius alexandrinus) and least terns

(Sterna antillarum) have protective enclosures on Sanibel and Captiva. Least terns, black skimmers

(Rynchops niger) and Wilson’s plovers (C. wilsonia) are protected on Fort Myers Beach.

In addition, the officer aides in rescuing stranded fishermen, personal watercraft enthusiasts, paddle boarders and swimmers. At times, paddle boarders and swimmers

venture too far or cannot make it back to their starting point because of high winds or strong currents. Spoede also makes time for interviews with the media.

As a member of the FWC Special Operations Group, Spoede aides in enforcement against boat and boat motor theft, smuggling, drug traffic, and other fish and game violations. All of these duties are dangerous jobs and the officers carry various weapons and wear bulletproof vests.

I came away from my boat ride with Officer Spoede with a greater appreciation for the multiple and professional jobs that he and his colleagues perform every day. Florida’s natural resources and outdoor experiences are being protected and enhanced because of the FWC and its dedicated law enforcement officers.

Spoede’s duties not only include inshore fisheries protection, but also offshore patrolling— day and night.

The writer on a ride-along with FWC Officer Stuart Spoede discovered a greater appreciation for the jobs Spoede and his colleagues perform.

Estero Bay was designated Florida’s first aquatic preserve in 1966.

Florida wildlife officers regulate boater safety, illegal activities, bag limits, vessel registration, speed/wake enforcement and oversee our natural resources.