NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on March 10, 2010, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, received a petition for a temporary (three year) variance from portions of the Manatee County manatee protection Rule 68C-22.014, Florida Administrative Code, that establish Slow Speed boat speed zones in the Anna Maria Island area. The petition was submitted by Nick Taylor, and seeks authorization for the applicant or others associated with the applicant to operate a personal watercraft (PWC) at speeds greater than Slow Speed (up to 20 MPH) in 14 shallow water areas while wakeskating. The petition describes wakeskating as being visually comparable to skateboarding on water; most often, the wakeskater is pulled by a PWC, with the wakeskater not attached to the board but instead relying on friction from the sandpaper-like board surface, the same as skateboarding. The petition states the applicant earns his living wakeskating and needs the variance to continue his profession. Comments regarding the petition will be accepted for no less than 14 days from the date of publication of this notice.
A copy of the Petition for Variance or Waiver may be obtained by contacting: Mr. Scott Calleson, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Imperiled Species Management Section 6A, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600, (850)922-4330.