Practice good seamanship and safe boating. Keep safe distances from
other boats and fisherman. Observe size and catch
limits. Release all fish you can't consume.
Don't disturb wildlife. Stay at least 200 feet offshore. Keep speed,
noise, and wakes to a minimum near mangroves.
Dumping trash at sea is illegal. Plastic bags and other debris can injure
or kill marine animals. Try to retrieve fishing
gear and equipment, especially monofilament line.
Accidental boat groundings damage the reef. Prop damage destroys shallow
seagrass beds. Consult tide and navigational charts and steer
away from shallow areas. Keep in mind: "Brown, brown run aground. Blue,
blue sail on through."
Use reef mooring buoys or anchor in sandy areas away from coral and
seagrasses so that anchor and chain do not
damage the coral or seagrass beds.
Use sewage pump-out facilities and biodegradable bilge cleaner, and
never discharge bilge water at the reef.