Boats, sand bars and social distancing

Posted On: April 10, 2020

To help protect the public against further spread of the virus, Volusia County’s Beach Safety Division staff continues to monitor beach conditions, especially in the sand bars affected by the tides. Boaters are urged to avoid Disappearing Island as well as other sand bars that attract crowds. While the county’s boat ramps remain open, the Volusia Sheriff’s Office is keeping a watchful eye to prevent crowds and congestion at the ramps and popular boating sites around the county.

Although officials will continue to monitor boaters to ensure compliance, our message to the public is to adhere to the Safer-At-Home directive and refrain from leaving one’s residence unnecessarily. Adhering to the order will help flatten the curve, reduce the potential for additional spread, and help us get through this emergency as soon as possible. For that reason, the county is not encouraging or facilitating boaters to visit these sand bars.

For those out on the waterways, boaters are reminded of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s executive order (EO 20-09) that limits recreational vessel occupancy to no more than 10 people per vessel and requires a minimum distance of 50 feet between recreational vessels. Boat ramps will be closed and sand bars cleared if crowd control and social distancing measures are not followed.

The county continues to emphasize the importance of personal responsibility. The well-being and safety of the community depends on residents and visitors.