Weekly 5: Invasive species economic impact much worse than thought
The BI Weekly 5 is a collection of tips, news and data affecting the boating industry this week. Be sure to look for the BI Weekly 5 every Monday on BoatingIndustry.com.
1. Study: Invasive species impact much worse than thought
The economic cost of invasive species is much higher than previously thought, scientists at the University of Wisconsin say.
“Our study indicates that previous attempts to put a price tag on invasive species impacts haven’t come close to the true cost,” Jake Walsh, a Ph.D. candidate at the UW Center for Limnology and lead author of the report, said in a statement.
Most previous studies have focused at the direct costs of managing invasive species in the Great Lakes, the authors said, while in this study they focused on smaller lakes and also considered the benefits that people derive from using the water.
2. Florida governor signs boating safety law
Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Friday signed a bill Friday to give boaters there a state registration discount for installing emergency locator beacons on their vessels, the Sun Sentinel reported.
The bill was inspired by the disappearance of two 14-year-olds in Florida last year. Two Florida congressmen recently introduced a similar bill at the federal level.
3. Oklahoma marina fire destroys eight boats
A fire at Keystone Pier 51 Marina in Sand Springs, Okla., destroyed eight boats and damaged others as well as piers at the marina Sunday night, the Tulsa World reported.
Nobody was injured in the fire that is believed to have started on an unattended house boat at the pier, the paper reported.
4. ABC launches updated app
The American Boating Congress has released its new smartphone app, ahead of May’s conference. The free app includes a comprehensive schedule, Congressional directories, Capitol Hill maps, policy briefs and more.
5. Palm Beach show docks polluted water, environmentalists say
The docks used at this year’s Palm Beach International Show resulted in pieces of polyurethane foam polluting the water, the Broward Palm Beach New Times reported.
Environmental groups have complained about the docks used at the show before, including at this year’s Yachts Miami Beach, which is also run by Show Management. This is a different technology than the encapsulated dock system used at the Miami Beach International Show.
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