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Poll-troll panel to appeal to county

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BY YVETTE C. HAMMETT

yhammett@tampatrib.com

Published: July 4, 2009

RUSKIN - Those pushing for quick boat access to a proposed pole and troll zone here will ask the county to fight their battle with the state and federal governments.

Several members of a citizens committee that has been working on five proposals for a pole and troll zone in Little Cockroach Bay plan to set up a meeting with Hillsborough County Commissioner Al Higginbotham.

They intend to plead their case for faster access lanes through a slow-speed manatee protection zone.

Without a way for boaters to get into the area quickly, there will be little compliance in the pole and troll zone or manatee protection zone, they say.

The county's Environmental Protection Commission has been working with a citizens' group for the better part of two years to devise a plan that would still boat motors in an area where seagrass beds have been severely scarred by propellers.

Seagrass is considered vital to the health of Tampa Bay, helping to cleanse water and provide food and shelter for marine creatures.

The citizens' committee came up with five alternative plans for a pole and troll zone, all allowing faster boat access through corridors in the county-designated manatee protection zone.

But, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and the state Department of Environmental Protection rejected all the proposals, saying they aren't willing to loosen manatee protection.

Not so fast, said Danny Guarino, a Ruskin fishing guide, who has chaired the committee.

"You can put up all the signs you want," but will get no compliance from many boaters without giving them a reasonable speed at which they can access Little Cockroach Bay. "In real life, people won't comply unless it's made easier for them."

He said he plans to drive that point across with Higginbotham.

Reporter Yvette C. Hammett can be reached at (813) 627-4763.

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