Boating enthusiasts and waterfront residents along the Treasure Coast should be aware of a significant new regulation impacting our local waterways. Effective June 1, St. Lucie County and the City of Fort Pierce have officially implemented new Anchoring Limitation Areas to address the growing number of live-aboard sailboats dropping anchor indefinitely within the Fort Pierce Inlet.
The new regulations are designed to protect marine habitats, improve navigational safety, and prevent vessels from becoming abandoned. Under the new rules, boaters are strictly prohibited from anchoring a vessel for more than 45 consecutive days during any six-month period. To reset the clock, a vessel must vacate the area for a minimum of 24 hours.
According to Joshua Revord, the Port, Inlet and Beaches Director, local officials analyzed historical aerial imagery to pinpoint the highest-density areas of anchored vessels before finalizing the boundaries. The new anchoring restrictions apply specifically to the following local zones:
- From the Fort Pierce port mainland stretching east to the Coast Guard station
- The waters completely surrounding Wesley’s Island
- Along the South Causeway Beach, extending nearly to the Fort Pierce Inlet State Park
Protecting Water Quality and Navigational Safety
The push for these limitations comes in response to a noticeable uptick in long-term anchoring. Crowded waterways not only create navigational hazards but also pose severe risks to local water quality if boaters fail to properly pump out their sewage. The congestion has also impacted daily operations at Derecktor Shipyards, a prominent mega-yacht maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility in the area.
To ensure compliance, local crews have begun erecting signage and distributing educational flyers featuring QR codes that link to detailed county resources. City and county staff are also using day-to-day interactions to educate boaters about local pump-out services and to proactively identify vessels that are at risk of sinking or becoming abandoned by their owners.
The implementation of the new Anchoring Limitation Areas aims to mitigate the environmental and financial toll of derelict vessels in the Fort Pierce Inlet. When neglected boats sink or drift away, they endanger marine life and property, ultimately forcing taxpayers to shoulder the heavy financial burden of their removal.
The Legacy Mega-Yacht Exception
While the new rules apply to the vast majority of vessels, one notable local fixture will remain unaffected. The Legacy, a 158-foot Italian custom-made sailing yacht, has been moored just outside the newly designated limited-anchoring area since 2022.
Built by the famed Italian yacht builder Perini Navi in 1995 for Wall Street mogul Peter Halmos, the $16 million vessel has a storied maritime past, including being blown onto the seagrass flats off Key West during Hurricane Wilma in 2005. Recently, the yacht sank in front of Derecktor Shipyards and had to be refloated. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has inspected the vessel multiple times and is currently investigating the sinking incident; however, officials have not yet officially deemed the Legacy a derelict vessel.
As the Treasure Coast continues to thrive as a premier destination for maritime living and recreation, these new regulations represent a proactive step by local governments to preserve the pristine nature, safety, and accessibility of the Fort Pierce Inlet for both residents and visiting boaters alike.
