Puerto Rico's Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA) Secretary Waldemar Quiles signed an administrative order banning jet skis in the Mar Negro sector of Jobos Bay in Salinas, citing a high mortality rate among manatees. The order prohibits the use, operation, circulation, parking, and transit of watercraft ("Jet Ski") in this ecologically valuable area, while still allowing fishing vessels up to 25 feet in length to operate, provided they do so prudently and in accordance with existing regulations. Quiles visited the area Monday alongside Governor Jenniffer González Colón and Salinas Mayor Karilyn Bonilla Colón before signing the directive.
Violators face penalties under Law 430-2000, including administrative fines of up to $5,000 per incident, with each day the violation continues counted as a separate offense; fines will be assessed against the watercraft's registration. Puerto Rico is home to an estimated 500 to 600 West Indian manatees, and Jobos Bay is a common sighting location. Although 2026 statistics show a reduction in reported manatee deaths, collisions with boats remain the leading threat to the species.
The order coincides with an awareness campaign urging recreational boat operators and the public to navigate responsibly and learn about areas frequented by manatees.