"Sadly, Osmany's death was only one of 13 related to boating accidents in Miami-Dade County in 2007," said Commissioner Sosa. "Last year, Florida had the highest number of deadly boating accidents in the country. There needs to be more safety education and training for boat operators so we can ensure another promising life like Osmany's is not taken too soon."

According to the FWCC, Florida led the nation in deadly boating accidents in 2007 with 77 people killed. In fact, the state has topped the rest of the country in boating accident deaths 16 times over the last two decades. The FWCC also reports that in 85 percent of these accidents that occurred in 2007, the boat's operator had no basic boating safety education. Currently, Florida law currently requires only those vessel operators who are 21 years of age or younger to take a boating safety course.

However, 25 states and U.S. territories have passed laws requiring safety education for all boat operators to be phased in either by requiring safety education for all vessel operators within a certain time period, such as ten years, or by tying safety education requirements to all vessel operators born after a certain date.

The resolution passed by Miami-Dade County requests that the FWCC and Florida Legislature approve and implement a nine-year phase-in of boater safety education requirements for all vessel operators in Florida.

Osmany Castellanos was born in Hialeah to Isabel and Amado, and had one brother named Alex. He attended several local schools, including Everglades Elementary, West Miami Middle, and Miami Coral Park Senior High. In high school, Castellanos worked as a lifeguard for Miami-Dade Park and Recreation, and eventually wanted to become a firefighter. He was an avid boater and jet-skier.