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Guidelines for Protecting Manatees
Manatee dos and don'ts
The West Indian Manatee is an endangered species and is protected by state and federal law. Please avoid harassing or disturbing manatees. Harassment is defined as any activity which alters the animal's natural behavior. By altering the manatee's natural behavior, you may create the likelihood of danger that is bad for the animal, and against the law.
1. BEING NEAR MANATEES
- Look, but don't touch manatees. Also, don't feed manatees or give them water. If manatees become accustomed to being around people, they can alter their behavior in the wild, perhaps causing them to lose their natural fear of boats and humans, and this may make them more susceptible to harm. Passive observation is the best way to interact with manatees and all wildlife.
- Do not pursue or chase a manatee while you are swimming, snorkeling, diving, or operating a boat.
- Never poke, prod, or stab a manatee with your hands, feet, or any object.
- If a manatee avoids you, you should avoid it.
- Don't isolate or single out an individual manatee from its group, and don't separate a cow from her calf.
- Don't attempt to snag, hook, grab, hold, pinch, or ride a manatee.
- Avoid excessive noise and splashing if a manatee appears in you swimming area.
- Use snorkel gear when attempting to watch manatees. The sound of bubbles from scuba gear may cause manatees to leave the area.
- When snorkeling don't wear a weight belt. Float at the surface of the water and passively observe the manatee. Look but don't touch.
2. DON'T ENTER AREAS DESIGNATED AS "NO ENTRY - MANATEE REFUGE"
- These areas have been identified by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services as crucial for manatee survival.
3. WHEN BOATING OR JET SKIING
- Abide by the posted speed zone signs while in areas known to have manatees present or when observations indicate manatees might be present. Observations may include a swirl at the surface caused by the manatee while diving; seeing the animal's back, snout, tail, or flipper break the surface of the water; or hearing it when it surfaces to breathe.
- Wear polarized sunglasses to reduce glare on the surface of the water. This will enable you to see manatees more easily.
- Try to stay in deep water channels. Manatees can be found in shallow, slow moving rivers, estuaries, lagoons, and coastal areas. Avoid boating over seagrass beds and shallow areas.
- Remain at least 50 feet away from a manatee when operating a powerboat. Don't operate a boat over large concentrations of manatees.
- If you like to water ski, please choose areas that manatees do not use, or cannot enter, such as land locked lakes.
- Please don't discard monofilament line, hooks, or any other litter into the water. Manatees may ingest or become entangled in the debris and become injured or even die. Note: discarding monofilament fishing line into the waters of Florida is unlawful.
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Observe the signs
- Idle Speed Zone -- a zone in which boats are not permitted to go any faster than necessary to be steered.
- Slow Speed Zone -- a minimum wake zone where boats must not be on a plane and must be level in the water.
- Caution Area -- an area frequently inhabited by manatees, requiring caution on the part of boaters to avoid disturbing or injuring the animals.
- Resume Normal Safe Operation -- a sign indicating that you may resume safe boating speed; visible as you leave a protected area
- No Entry Zone -- a protected zone that prohibits boating, swimming, and diving for the protection of manatees.
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Manatee fact sheet
Name: Florida Manatee
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Sirenia
Family: Trichechidae
Genus: Trichechus
Species: manatus
Subspecies: latirostris
Description:
Large, seal-like body that tapers to a spatulate (beaver-like) tail. Two forelimbs with three or four nails on each. Thick skin, with stiff whiskers on upper lip.
Color:
Grey or grey-brown
Size:
Typically about 9-10 feet long, weighing 1,000 pounds. Can grow as large as 13 feet, weighing more than 3,000 pounds.
Behavior:
Completely harmless and nonaggressive, they are often shy and reclusive.
Vision:
Depth perception may be limited. Can differentiate colors.
Hearing:
Can hear very well despite the absence of external ear lobes.
Communication:
Emit sounds that are within human auditory range. They make squeaks and squeals when frightened, playing or communicating, particularly between cow and calf.
Breathing:
Nostrils on upper surface of snout close tightly like valves when submerged. surfaces to breathe every few minutes when active; every 10 to 15 minutes when resting.
Range/Habitat:
Primarily restricted to peninsular Florida and south Georgia. They can be found in shallow, slow-moving rivers, estuaries, saltwater bays, canals, and coastal areas, particularly where sea grass beds flourish. They can live in fresh or salt water.
Reproduction:
Normally one calf every 2 to 5 years.
Population:
An estimated 2,600 remaining in the southeastern U.S. concentrated in Florida year-round.
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Protection by law
The manatee is protected under federal law by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973, which make it illegal to harass, hunt, capture or kill any marine mammal. The manatee also is protected by the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978, shich states: "It is unlawful for any person, at any time, intentionally or negligently, to annoy, molest, harass, or disturb any manatee."
Anyone convicted of violating this state law faces a possible maximum fine of $500 and/or imprisonment for up to 60 days. Conviction on the federal level is punishable by a fine of up to $50,000 and/or one year in prison. The State of Florida can pursue prosecution under federal law in circumstances of extreme harassment, resulting in the death or injury of a manatee.
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Additional Information:
Save the Manatee Club
500 N Maitland Avenue
Maitland, FL 32751
(800) 432-JOIN
Florida Power & Light Company
Environmental Services
P.O. Box 14000
Juno Beach, FL 33408
(561) 691-7065
http://www.fpl.com
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
6620 Southpoint Drive, South
Suite 310
Jacksonville, FL 32216
(904) 232-2580
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
620 South Meridian Street
OES-BPS
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600
(904) 922-4330
Call 1-800-DIAL-FMP (1-800-342-5367) to report manatee injuries, deaths, tag sightings or harassment.
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