Boaters can help keep manatees safe by slowing down, looking out below

FLORIDA — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is asking Florida residents and visitors to help keep manatees safe, especially while out on the water.

Boat strikes are a major threat to Florida manatees. FWC law enforcement officers are on patrol in state waters to remind boaters of the seasonal manatee speed zones and take enforcement actions.

“We’re asking the public to be exceptionally vigilant watching for manatees when out on the water, as the FWC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service continue to respond to a high level of manatee deaths along Florida’s east coast,” said Michelle Pasawicz, Manatee Management Program Lead for the FWC.

“By obeying speed zones, wearing polarized glasses and keeping a watchful eye on the water, you can make an immediate difference in manatee conservation.”

From April 1 through Nov. 15, seasonal manatee zones require boaters to slow down in certain areas to prevent manatees from being injured or killed by motorboats or personal watercraft.

As water temperatures warm, manatees naturally disperse from their winter habitats, traveling to other areas of the state and beyond.

Florida boaters are also enjoying the season, so it is crucial to stay alert and avoid manatees while traveling through Florida’s waterways.

Manatees can be difficult to detect when they are underwater, so it is important for operators of boats and personal watercraft to be vigilant. You can help protect manatees by following these simple guidelines:

• Wear polarized sunglasses to help spot manatees.
• Avoid boating in shallow areas where manatees graze on seagrass.
• Look for large circles on the water, also known as manatee footprints, indicating the presence of a manatee below.
• Look for a snout sticking up out of the water.
• Follow posted manatee zones while boating.
• Never push a stranded manatee back into the water.
• Report injured, distressed, sick or dead manatees to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) or by dialing #FWC or *FWC on a cellphone so trained responders can assist.

Resources for boaters, educators and other interested members of the public are available at MyFWC.com/Manatee.