Tensions are escalating in Miami Beach as liveaboard boaters clash with city officials over anchoring rights and environmental concerns in Sunset Harbour. At the heart of the dispute are the liveaboard boaters' rights to moor legally and the health of Biscayne Bay. According to a post on X by Local 10 News Environmental Advocate Louis Aguirre, the battle continues to heat up.
The battle heating up between boat dwellers in Sunset Harbour and the City of Miami Beach. At the stake the health of Biscayne Bay but also the boaters rights to anchor where it’s legal. The fight continues. https://t.co/UEj7EfYkD0
— Louis Aguirre (@LOUISAGUIRRE) February 21, 2024
Since taking office, Commissioner David Saurez has targeted this issue, with increased code enforcement and cameras, making access to the shore more difficult for boaters. Boaters protected by state law can anchor in Florida unless restricted, and the city struggles within these limitations. Sworn into office three months ago, Suarez has support from the Miami Beach City Commission and some residents who are worried about debris in the water. As stated by West Avenue Neighborhood Association President Tim Carr in an interview with Local 10 News, "The biggest damage is just the debris floating in the water – any time there’s a big wind event, plastic and Styrofoam is my biggest concern."
Local regulations prohibit anchoring in certain areas, but outside of these, boaters are free to anchor. A city-owned dock, which liveaboards often used for access to supplies, has been removed, leaving them with limited options like the 20-minute tie-up at the Purdy Ave dinghy dock. Carlos Leon, a boater and Miami Beach Boaters Association organizer, has likened their struggle for access to supplies to "jump like rats over the wall."
During an argument captured by a body-worn camera by a Miami Beach police marine patrol officer near the Purdy Dock, Suarez and Leon exchanged words over the treatment of the liveaboard community. "Stop harassing, talk to your people and we can get--," Leon started before being interrupted by the commissioner replying with his understanding of harassment. The commissioner insists that the increased pressure on liveaboards is crucial for the sake of Biscayne Bay's health. In an investigation conducted by Miami Beach police and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, they found only two of 39 vessels were improperly disposing of sewage.
However, findings from the Surfrider Foundation's Blue Water Task Force suggest that the boaters may not be the problem the city alleges. Their data notes that the harbor site typically doesn't show high levels of fecal bacteria, echoing Charter Boat Captain Micah Plummer's defense of the community's environmental awareness. "I do not dump waste into the water, I do not know anybody out here that does," Plummer told Local 10 News in defense of his six-year tenure in the harbor.
Despite the tension and the push from officials to remove what they perceive as "squatters on the water," liveaboard boaters remain resolute. Leon affirmed his commitment to his lifestyle, "This is my home. I’m willing to fight," as mentioned by the Local 10 News. The city is currently discussing a potential compromise: a $2.3 million mooring field project, which is over a year away from realization. The public has until March 21 to review and comment on the current plans on the city's website.
