The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) says that a new survey it commissioned shows widespread support for proposed mandatory boater education requirements and PFD usage by children.

The FWC says it will propose to the Florida legislature "during this year's session" requirements that all boaters take a boating safety course over an 11-year phase-in period and children less than 13 years old wear life jackets while on vessels under 26 feet in length. These proposals will require approval by the legislature and governor.

Currently, only boat operators 21 and younger must have completed a safety education course in order to legally operate in Florida. Also, current law requires children less than six years of age to wear a PFD when aboard a vessel less than 26 feet in length. The boater education requirement would be phased in over an 11-year period, according to the FWC. It is not clear from FWC statements whether the child PFD requirement would make a distinction between children above and below decks. FWC said it conducted the poll of registered voters during the week of November 17, 2007.

In 2006, the last year for which complete data is available, Florida recorded 69 boating fatalities; the majority of which involved falls overboard from small vessels (16 feet or less), with the vast majority of those killed not wearing PFDs.

You can read about the FWC, its safety statistics and other Florida marine recreation information here.