Florida Manatees Protection Guidelines

Guidelines for Protecting Native Wildlife: Florida Manatees

  • Shared Responsibility

    • Every individual, including boat operators, watercraft operators, divers, and snorkelers, shares the responsibility of protecting Florida's resources.

    • Importance of conserving beauty, wildlife, water, and natural resources for future generations.

    • Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

What is a Manatee?

  • Species Identification

    • The Florida manatee is a subspecies of the West Indian manatee.

    • General appearance: large, grayish-brown aquatic mammal.

    • Body type: sausage-like body that tapers to a flat, paddle-shaped tail.

    • Flippers: Two flippers with three to four "fingernails" each.

    • Features: Wrinkled head and face with stiff whiskers (vibrissae) around the mouth.

  • Size and Weight

    • Adult manatees average about 10 feet in length and weigh around 1,200 pounds.

    • Maximum recorded statistics: lengths over 13 feet and weights over 3,000 pounds.

    • Newborn calves are typically 3 to 4 feet long and weigh 60 to 70 pounds.

  • Habits

    • Primary activities include feeding and resting. Feeds on aquatic plants found along rivers, coastal areas, and at water surfaces.

    • Resting behavior: Can hold breath for up to 20 minutes; surfaces to breathe about every 3 to 5 minutes when active.

  • Population and Threats

    • Estimated population of Florida manatees: at least 6,000 individuals.

    • Major threats include:

    • Loss of warm-water habitat due to a decline in spring flow.

    • Collisions with watercraft.

    • Loss of thermal refuges provided by power plants.

Manatee Life Span and Survival

  • Life Span

    • Manatees can live over 65 years.

  • Reproductive Biology

    • Female manatees reach sexual maturity between 3 to 6 years old.

    • Breeding: Females typically give birth between 4 to 7 years of age, with the first calf usually at 5 years.

    • Reproductive rate: Females produce one calf every 2.5 to 3 years, indicating slow reproductive potential.

    • Loss of breeding females significantly impacts overall population recovery.

Manatee Habitat

  • Habitat Preferences

    • Manatees inhabit both fresh and saltwater aquatic environments, favoring rivers, springs, estuaries, bays, and canals throughout Florida.

    • Temperature sensitivity: Cannot endure water temperatures below 68 degrees Fahrenheit for extended periods.

  • Winter Behaviors

    • Seek refuge in warm-water springs and discharge canals during colder months.

Activities to Support Manatee Protection

  • Public Engagement

    • Observing manatees from a distance to minimize disturbance.

    • Participating in coastal cleanup events.

    • Taking boating safety classes (available online).

    • Reporting entangled or distressed manatees to the FWC Wildlife Alert number.

    • Supporting conservation efforts by purchasing “Save the Manatee” license plates or decals during vehicle or vessel registration.

    • Recycling monofilament fishing line to prevent entanglement of marine life.

Boating Regulations to Protect Manatees

  • Speed Zones

    • Idle Speed Zone:

    • Area where boats cannot exceed speed needed for steerage and headway.

    • Slow Speed Zone:

    • Area where boats must be fully off plane and settled in the water while moving.

    • No Entry Zone:

    • Area that prohibits any activities including boating, swimming, wading, fishing, and diving.

  • Operating Guidelines

    • Comply with all boating speed zone signs.

    • Slow down to reduce collision risks.

    • Use marked channels to navigate, reducing risks of injuring manatees in shallow waters.

    • Wear polarized sunglasses for better visibility of underwater objects and manatee activity.

    • Maintain a proper lookout for wildlife and other obstacles while boating.

Guidelines for Paddlers

  • General Practices

    • Maintain distance while observing manatees and limit viewing time to avoid startling them.

    • Exercise caution near seagrass beds and boundaries of sanctuaries where manatees may be present.

    • Avoid surrounding or approaching manatees; back away to observe from a distance.

    • Use polarized sunglasses for visibility of underwater manatees.

    • Keep noise levels down near wildlife areas to avoid disturbances.

    • Be mindful of where you paddle to avoid resting manatees.

  • Interaction Rules

    • Do not interact with equipment attached to manatees (monitoring gear) as it is important for research.

    • Provision of food or water to manatees is prohibited to prevent alteration of natural foraging behavior.

    • Lower your anchor slowly to avoid harming concealed manatees beneath your vessel.

Guidelines for Divers and Snorkelers

  • Protective Measures

    • Respect the underwater habitat and its inhabitants.

    • Avoid chasing or pursuing manatees. If a manatee stops feeding or changes behavior, you are too close.

    • Maintain distance from resting manatees, which surface to breathe about every 20 minutes.

    • Refrain from poking or prodding manatees with any object.

    • Use snorkel gear as SCUBA bubbles can disturb manatees.

  • Maternal Protection

    • Do not separate a calf from its mother during encounters.

    • Engage in responsible wildlife viewing to foster a respectful environment for all.

Manatee Harassment Laws

  • Legal Definitions

    • Florida Administrative Code 68C-22.002 defines manatee harassment as
      "any intentional or negligent act or omission which creates the likelihood of causing an injury to a manatee by annoying it to such an extent as to significantly disrupt normal behavioral patterns."

    • It is illegal to annoy, molest, harass, pursue, hunt, or harm any manatee.

  • Specific Prohibitions

    • Do not feed manatees or attract them with food or water.

    • Avoid separation of mothers and calves, disturbing mating herds, identifying resting spaces, or pursuing manatees.

    • Refrain from acts that could injure or harm manatees.

Reporting and Legal Consequences

  • Reporting Collisions

    • Report any accidents involving collisions with manatees immediately to enhance survival chances.

  • Legal Protection

    • Manatees are protected by several laws including the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978. Violations can result in penalties such as fines and imprisonment.

    • Penalties for Violations:

    • State law violations: Maximum fines of $500 and/or up to 60 days imprisonment.

    • Federal violations: Fines up to $100,000 and/or one year in prison.

  • Wildlife Alert Contacts

    • To report manatee deaths, injuries, harassment, accidents, or orphaned/distressed manatees, call the FWC Wildlife Alert number: 888-404-FWCC (3922).