More than 1 million boats are now registered in Florida

Why it matters: While Florida leads the nation in most registered boats, it also has the highest number of reported boating accidents.

• In 2020, 836 boating accidents were reported to the FWC, including 79 deaths (with five missing persons presumed dead) and 534 injuries.
• Most recently, a man drowned while trying to tow his boat back to shore on Lake Seminole — hours after firefighters had rescued him from the sinking boat.

Be smart: FWC encourages boaters to wear life jackets, maintain 360-degree awareness and know the dangers of (and penalties for) operating a vessel while impaired.

• The commission also recommends taking one of its educational courses this spring.