Boater compliance behavior in manatee conservation zones: Recreation specialization, attitudes and situational factors

My study investigated the factors associated with compliant and non-compliant vessel speeds in speed-restricted manatee conservation zones on the St. John's River, Florida during the summer and fall of 2006. Recreation specialization theory, theory of reasoned action (TRA), marine conservation attitudes, boater knowledge and situational factors were examined as predictor variables to vessel speed discrepancies (observed vessel speed minus maximum allowable per zone). The study was conducted by first observing vessel speed and vessel and operator attributes, after which a mail survey was sent to the vessel operator observed on the water.;Recreation specialization was found to be poorly associated with vessel speed discrepancy, and found to be negatively associated with marine conservation attitudes. Marine conservation attitudes were also found to be poorly associated with vessel speed discrepancy. However, marine conservation attitudes had a strong positive influence on behavioral intention to fully comply with vessel speed zones during next outing.;Although most respondents self-reported being in full compliance with boat speed restrictions during their last boat outing, these responses were weakly associated with observed vessel speed compliance. In this investigation, self-reported behavior served as poor proxy to actual behavior.;Vessel length was poorly associated with conservation attitudes, although mean vessel speed discrepancies were found to differ among various boat lengths. Operators of longer vessels and non-rental vessels were found to violate speed restrictions to a greater extent than those of shorter vessels or rentals.;Within the TRA progression, past behavior (self-reported compliance behavior) and attitudes were unique contributors to behavioral intentions to fully comply with speed restrictions during next boat outing. Past behavior (self-reported compliance behavior) was found to have a strong negative influence on attitudes. Past behavior in the form of observed vessel speed discrepancy was weakly associated with attitudes, subjective norms, and behavioral intentions.;Fewer than half of the vessels observed for this investigation were in full compliance with speed restrictions. As with past studies, approximately one-third of the respondents in this investigation disagreed or strongly disagreed with on-water boater informational signage (both in manatee and general boat safety speed zones) as easy to read, easy to see or effectively delineating manatee and general boat speed zones. Results of the study suggest that a more efficacious approach to reducing vessel speeds may be necessary in critical manatee conservation areas. Furthermore, management strategies designed to change boater attitudes may be most effective in encouraging compliance with manatee speed zones.