Fly Heli Tours owner makes statement on moving barge to support planned helicopter flights

Some question impact of change in location

Jan 16, 2026 By Nathan Mayberg 6 min read

1 / 88

A dolphin and pelican mingle in Fort Myers Beach waters, not far from where Fly Heli Tours has moved their barge for planned helicopter operations. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

2 / 88

3 / 88

There was heavy dolphin activity in Fort Myers Beach waters near Bowditch Point Regional Park on Friday, not far from where Fly Heli Tours has moved their barge to support planned helicopter tours over Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

4 / 88

5 / 88

6 / 88

7 / 88

8 / 88

9 / 88

10 / 88

11 / 88

12 / 88

13 / 88

14 / 88

15 / 88

16 / 88

17 / 88

18 / 88

19 / 88

20 / 88

21 / 88

Dolphin activity on Fort Myers Beach, near where Fly Heli Tours has moved a barge further out towards the Gulf to support planned helicopter landings and takeoffs for helicopter tours over Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

22 / 88

23 / 88

24 / 88

25 / 88

26 / 88

27 / 88

28 / 88

29 / 88

30 / 88

Fly Heli Tours owner Steve Overy has moved his barge for helicopter tours and landings further north from the area in the bay he was previously. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

31 / 88

32 / 88

Dolphin activity in the area where Steve Overy has moved his barge, not far from Bowditch Point Regional Park and Bunche Beach Preserve. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

33 / 88

Dolphin activity in the area where Steve Overy has moved his barge, not far from Bowditch Point Regional Park and Bunche Beach Preserve. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

34 / 88

Fly Heli Tours owner Steve Overy has moved his barge for helicopter tours and landings further north from the area in the bay he was previously. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

35 / 88

36 / 88

Fly Heli Tours owner Steve Overy has moved his barge for helicopter tours and landings further north from the area in the bay he was previously. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

37 / 88

38 / 88

Fly Heli Tours owner Steve Overy has moved his barge for helicopter tours and landings further north from the area in the bay he was previously. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

39 / 88

Dolphin activity on Fort Myers Beach, near where Fly Heli Tours has moved a barge to support planned helicopter landings and takeoffs for helicopter tours over Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

40 / 88

41 / 88

42 / 88

43 / 88

44 / 88

45 / 88

46 / 88

47 / 88

48 / 88

49 / 88

50 / 88

51 / 88

52 / 88

53 / 88

54 / 88

55 / 88

56 / 88

A great blue heron art Bowditch Point Regional Park on Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

57 / 88

58 / 88

59 / 88

60 / 88

61 / 88

62 / 88

63 / 88

64 / 88

65 / 88

66 / 88

67 / 88

68 / 88

69 / 88

70 / 88

71 / 88

72 / 88

73 / 88

74 / 88

75 / 88

76 / 88

77 / 88

78 / 88

79 / 88

80 / 88

81 / 88

82 / 88

83 / 88

84 / 88

85 / 88

Photo by Nathan Mayberg

86 / 88

87 / 88

88 / 88

After moving his helicopter barge out of a manatee speed zone and out of an area off Fort Myers Beach where environmentalists say is a dolphin nursery, Fly Heli Tours owner Steve Overy said he was listening to the concerns of residents.

Overy issued a statement on Friday after moving the barge further north of the bay, closer to the Gulf. The barge was previously closer to the Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina and not far from homes along Estero Boulevard.

The new location was viewable on Friday directly across from Bowditch Point Regional Park, where there was heavy bird and dolphin activity, along with dolphin watchers. Groups of dolphins and their calves were seen swimming together.

Overy said the location of the barge is no closer to Bowditch Point Regional Park than it was before though he declined to discuss the issue further.

Environmentalists have expressed concern for the noise impacts the helicopter will have on dolphins, manatees and birds in the area. The new location of the barge is not far from the state-designated Matanzas Island Critical Wildlife Area and Bunch Beach Park Preserve.

Overy’s statement on the movement of the barge was issued two days after the Fort Myers Beach Marine and Environmental Resources task force voted unanimously to recommend to the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council that the town work with Overy on moving the barge to a more compatible location.

On Friday, Overy issued a prepared statement in which he said “I want to be clear and transparent with the Fort Myers Beach community: we listened. After hearing concerns from local residents, I took those comments seriously and made the decision to voluntarily move our helicopter operations vessel out of the back bay and closer to the Gulf of America,” Overy said.

“This decision was not mandated. Our operations have always been legal, safe, and compliant with all applicable regulations. However, I believe that responsible business ownership goes beyond simply meeting legal requirements. It means listening to the community and being willing to adapt when concerns are raised,” Overy said.

“My goal has always been to operate in a way that is respectful, neighbor-friendly, and mindful of both residents and the surrounding environment,” Overy said.

“I appreciate the dialogue with local residents and remain committed to working collaboratively with the community as Fly Heli continues to operate responsibly,” he said.

Capt. Lauren Swaim, operator of SWFL Party Pontoon and a former observer for the National Atmospheric Oceanic Administration, said the move by Overy was not the area that she and other had suggested.

“Him moving it was to say he moved it for everyone complaining, to get the negative press away,” Swaim said. “This does not show he’s willing to work with the environmental aspects as it’s in the same general area.”

Pod Protectors founder Monica Lynn said that while she had advocated for the barge to be placed further away, she believes the new location is an improvement further away from the nursery and the manatee speed zone.

“I am grateful for that,” Lynn said.

Lynn, who closely monitors dolphin activity in the bay, said she and others had suggested Overy place the barge closer to the Punta Rassa Boat Ramp off Sanibel. Lynn said that Overy communicated he was open to moving the barge further out “over time.” She said his concern is having to shuttle customers from Moss Marina, where he said he has rented a boat slip for shuttling customers to the barge, and not wanting as long of a boat ride.

“I would prefer it to be further away,” Lynn said. “He is definitely going in the right direction.”

Lynn, who observed the large dolphin group near Bowditch Point Regional Park and not far from Overy’s boat on Friday, said “that was a very large nursery group for a couple days there.”

Lynn said there was a “huge group on Saturday.” Lynn said helicopters weren’t the only issue facing the dolphins. Some boats sometimes speed in and out of the channel as they enter from the Gulf or exit the manatee speed zone, posing potential threats to dolphins if motorists are not cognizant of their presence.

On Friday, there was heavy boat activity in the area around Overy’s barge and near where the dolphins were swimming.

Cindy Johnson, a volunteer with Turtle Time, said she does not believe Overy has all of the permits he needs, citing codes from the Florida Department of Transportation and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Messages left with officials at those agencies regarding such potential permits, were not immediately returned.

Overy has said he doesn’t believe he doesn’t need any permits besides certifications he has from the Florida Aviation Administration (FAA).

“I’m still concerned about the noise as are many others,” Johnson said. “I think the noise is an intrusion.”

Johnson said the Town of Fort Myers Beach should be passing resolutions to notify state and federal agencies of concerns for the impact to town residents and the back bay environment.

“The noise pollution is a big problem and will forever affect the residents,” Johnson said.

“As a resident, I am concerned about the intrusive disruption created by non-essential helicopter noise to our residential, tourist, business and natural areas,” Johnson said. “I am hopeful that our Town of Fort Myers Beach Council understands the long-term negative consequences the noise pollution from a local heliport will have on our community.”

Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers said he is hopeful “we can come to a resolution that everybody can live with if there is a resolution that everybody can live with.”

Attached at top is a photo gallery taken of where Overy has moved the barge as seen from Bowditch Point Regional Park on Fort Myers Beach on Friday. There was a lot of dolphin and bird activity in the waters not far from where the barge has now been anchored.

All photos taken Friday by Fort Myers Beach Observer Editor Nathan Mayberg

Fort Myers Beach Observer Editor Nathan Mayberg can be reached at NMayberg@breezenewspapers.com

This story was updated following comments from concerned citizens and a Town of Fort Myers Beach Council meeting