Everglades NP proposes motor ban on Snake Bight in Florida Bay
Hoping to prevent boat propellers from tearing up seagrass, Everglades National Park has proposed banning the use of outboard motors in part of Florida Bay.
The Snake Bight section of the bay would be declared a pole and troll zone, where only push poles, paddles and electric trolling motors could be used.
The no-motor zone would be a pilot project intended to test the effectiveness of such restrictions in protecting seagrass and wildlife habitat, while still allowing visitors to enjoy the park.
Matthew Schwartz, Everglades chairman of the Broward Group of the Sierra Club, said the experiment should show that damaged areas can recover, enhancing habitat for fish and other wildlife, improving the experience for people who fish, paddle or watch wildlife.
"This is really a historic step for the National Park Service," he said. "It would actually be the first time in their history they took a piece of the marine environment and made it off-limits to motorized recreation."
Fishing guides, inititially skeptical of the park's plans, generally support the motor ban at Snake Bight.