Florida Keys Pro Launches 'Respect the Water' Boating Safety Pledge

Christopher Pulichene, a marine tourism professional in the Florida Keys, has launched the "Respect the Water" Personal Pledge to promote safer boating, environmental stewardship, and thoughtful outdoor recreation. The pledge comes amid rising recreational boating incidents—3,844 incidents and 564 fatalities in 2023, per the U.S. Coast Guard—and millions of tons of ocean plastic annually, according to NOAA. Florida's coastal tourism supports over one million jobs, making waterway health critical.

Pulichene, who has years of experience in guest-focused watersports operations aboard cruise ships and now in the Florida Keys, emphasizes that safety and hospitality go hand in hand. "When people understand how everything works, they feel more comfortable and enjoy themselves more," he said. The pledge includes seven specific actions: conducting safety checks, explaining procedures clearly, cleaning up litter, respecting weather conditions, continuous learning, responsible wildlife viewing, and leading by example through calm communication.

The initiative also offers a "Do It Yourself Toolkit" with ten simple, no-cost habits—like checking the weather, inspecting life jackets, picking up litter, and learning one new safety rule weekly—plus a 30-day progress tracker. Pulichene hopes that small, consistent actions will improve safety, protect waterways, and create better experiences for everyone. The full interview is available at the website here. This pledge is an individual initiative by Pulichene to encourage responsible recreation for future generations.