Manatees

Manatees are one of the animals on the endangered species list. I enjoy boating and think it is a pain to have to follow the laws in the no wake zones but after doing research on the fact, I will pay closer attention to those laws.

Manatee protection rules are established to restrict the speed of water vessels where necessary to protect endangered manatees from harmful collisions. In the year 2009, 429 manatees were killed in Florida. 93 of these deaths were caused by watercrafts. Boaters need to be more responsible and pay attention to the no wake zones. The faster a boat travels, the more force is applied to the strike.

he difference between the force of a strike at 30 miles an hour is exactly twice that of a strike at 15 miles an hour, all other factors being equal. Approximately 25-30% of manatee deaths statewide are attributed to watercraft injuries - including personal watercraft. A PWC moves at high velocities and, along with passengers, weigh about 500 lbs at a minimum.

If the watercraft strikes a manatee in the head as it is taking a breath, acute trauma may result and the animal may die immediately. A mid-body strike can even be fatal if ribs are broken or disarticulated. Their internal injuries can result in death from internal bleeding or infection.

Things to do When Boating or Jet Skiing to Avoid Manatees:

▪ Abide by the posted speed zone signs while in areas known to have manatees present or when observations indicate manatees might be present. What to look for when trying to see manatees: Observations may include a swirl on the surface caused by the manatee when diving; seeing the animals 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, choose areas that manatees do not use, or cannot enter, such as land-locked lakes.

▪ Don't discard monofilament line, hooks, or any other litter into the water. Manatees may ingest or become entangled in this debris and can become injured or even die. Note: discarding monofilament fishing line into the waters of Florida is unlawful.