Manatee ProtectionManatee Protection

An Endangered SpeciesAn Endangered Species

In 1966, the Endangered Species In 1966, the Endangered Species Preservation Act was passed.Preservation Act was passed.

The West Indian manatee was first listed on The West Indian manatee was first listed on the Endangered Species List on March the Endangered Species List on March 11,1967, and still remains today.11,1967, and still remains today.

Manatee ProtectionManatee Protection The West Indian The West Indian

Manatee Manatee – (Trichechus manatus)(Trichechus manatus)

Two Subspecies:Two Subspecies:– Florida ManateeFlorida Manatee

(T.m. latirostris)(T.m. latirostris)

– Antillean ManateeAntillean Manatee (T.m. manatus)(T.m. manatus)

What is a manatee?What is a manatee?

Gentle, slow-moving Gentle, slow-moving aquatic mammalaquatic mammal

Feeds completely on Feeds completely on aquatic plantsaquatic plants

Manatee HabitatManatee Habitat

Mild water Mild water temperaturestemperatures

Seagrass bedsSeagrass beds– Found in slow-moving Found in slow-moving

rivers, lakes, canals, rivers, lakes, canals, estuaries, and saltwater estuaries, and saltwater baysbays

Manatee MaturationManatee Maturation

Gestation period: 385 to 400 daysGestation period: 385 to 400 days Born tail firstBorn tail first Newborn calvesNewborn calves

– 4 feet long4 feet long– 60 to 70 pounds60 to 70 pounds

Nursing: birth to 2 yearsNursing: birth to 2 years– Calves begin eating seagrass a few weeks after Calves begin eating seagrass a few weeks after

birth but continue to nurse to establish a bond birth but continue to nurse to establish a bond

Human carelessness and lack of respect for Human carelessness and lack of respect for manatees have caused manatees to be manatees have caused manatees to be injured and killed in their own habitats.injured and killed in their own habitats.

Since 1994, 200+ manatees have died Since 1994, 200+ manatees have died each each yearyear in U.S. waters. in U.S. waters. – 1/3 of these deaths were caused by collisions 1/3 of these deaths were caused by collisions

with boats, barges, and powerboat propellerswith boats, barges, and powerboat propellers

Direct hits from boat hulls can kill instantlyDirect hits from boat hulls can kill instantly Propellers cut the backs of manatees repeatedly Propellers cut the backs of manatees repeatedly

which sends the animal to the bottom to drownwhich sends the animal to the bottom to drown An estimated 80% of Florida’s 2,000 manatees An estimated 80% of Florida’s 2,000 manatees

have scars from multiple encounters with boat have scars from multiple encounters with boat propellerspropellers

Watercraft do not fall within manatee Watercraft do not fall within manatee hearing rangehearing range– By the time a manatee realizes there is a boat By the time a manatee realizes there is a boat

dangerously close, it doesn’t have time to get dangerously close, it doesn’t have time to get awayaway

Being a half-ton or larger, manatees are Being a half-ton or larger, manatees are very slow moving mammalsvery slow moving mammals

Manatee habitats are shallow and there isn’t Manatee habitats are shallow and there isn’t enough room to dive deeper while a boat enough room to dive deeper while a boat passespasses

Floodgates and Canal LocksFloodgates and Canal Locks Manatees stuck inside floodgates and canal locks are Manatees stuck inside floodgates and canal locks are

crushed when they are closedcrushed when they are closed

When the gates open, manatees are drowned from the When the gates open, manatees are drowned from the outpouring water which pins them underwateroutpouring water which pins them underwater

Human InvasionHuman Invasion

Manatee habitats have mostly been taken Manatee habitats have mostly been taken over by recreational fishing because they over by recreational fishing because they are rich in marine lifeare rich in marine life

Divers, boaters, swimmers, and people Divers, boaters, swimmers, and people fishing often harass manateesfishing often harass manatees– This can force manatees to leave their warm-This can force manatees to leave their warm-

water habitats and sometimes separates water habitats and sometimes separates mothers from their calvesmothers from their calves

LitterLitter

People leave behind fishing lines, hooks, and People leave behind fishing lines, hooks, and plastic six-pack holders which often cause death plastic six-pack holders which often cause death and injuryand injury– Manatees will swallow any litter that floats among the Manatees will swallow any litter that floats among the

seagrass that they eatseagrass that they eat– Manatees often get entangled in fishing lines and ropesManatees often get entangled in fishing lines and ropes

manatees become crippled and some lose entire flippers manatees become crippled and some lose entire flippers including bonesincluding bones

Marine Mammal Protection Act (1972)Marine Mammal Protection Act (1972)– Federal law which makes it illegal to capture a Federal law which makes it illegal to capture a

manatee without a permit, harass, injure, or kill manatee without a permit, harass, injure, or kill a manateea manatee

Endangered Species Act (ESA) (1973)Endangered Species Act (ESA) (1973)– Administered by the Interior Department’s U.S. Fish Administered by the Interior Department’s U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service and The National Oceanic and and Wildlife Service and The National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationAtmospheric Administration

– States that it is illegal to “hunt, kill, collect, harass, States that it is illegal to “hunt, kill, collect, harass, harm, pursue, shoot, trap, wound, or capture an harm, pursue, shoot, trap, wound, or capture an endangered species”endangered species”

– Requires that the government explore the potential Requires that the government explore the potential impact to threatened habitats and species when impact to threatened habitats and species when planning construction projectsplanning construction projects

Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act (1978)Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act (1978)– The state of Florida was declared a “refuge and The state of Florida was declared a “refuge and

sanctuary for manatees”sanctuary for manatees”– States that no one may annoy, molest, harass, or States that no one may annoy, molest, harass, or

disturb a manateedisturb a manatee– Gives officials the authority to enforce manatee Gives officials the authority to enforce manatee

protection, regulate boat traffic in manatee protection protection, regulate boat traffic in manatee protection zones, designate speed zones, and to even confiscate zones, designate speed zones, and to even confiscate the boats of convicted offendersthe boats of convicted offenders

Anyone convicted of violating the Sanctuary Act Anyone convicted of violating the Sanctuary Act faces a maximum fine of $500.00 and/or faces a maximum fine of $500.00 and/or imprisonment for up to 60 days.imprisonment for up to 60 days.

If a person causes severe injury or death to a If a person causes severe injury or death to a manatee, they can be pursued under federal law manatee, they can be pursued under federal law and if convicted faces fines up to $100,000 and/or and if convicted faces fines up to $100,000 and/or one year in prison.one year in prison.

Florida Marine Patrol Florida Marine Patrol (FMP)(FMP)– Has the authority to Has the authority to

enforce violationsenforce violations

Florida’s water system is Florida’s water system is so largeso large that the that the Florida Marine Patrol cannot monitor it allFlorida Marine Patrol cannot monitor it all

Florida’s water system:Florida’s water system:– 8,400 miles of tide-affected waters8,400 miles of tide-affected waters– 11,900 miles of inland rivers and streams11,900 miles of inland rivers and streams– 10,000 miles of canals10,000 miles of canals– 3,000,000 acres of man-made and natural 3,000,000 acres of man-made and natural

lakes.lakes.

The Manatee Rehabilitation The Manatee Rehabilitation PartnershipPartnership

– Columbus ZooColumbus Zoo– Disney Conservation FundDisney Conservation Fund– EPCOT-Living SeasEPCOT-Living Seas– FWC’s Florida Marine FWC’s Florida Marine

Research InstituteResearch Institute– Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Hubbs-SeaWorld Research

InstituteInstitute– Lowry Park ZooLowry Park Zoo

– Miami SeaquariumMiami Seaquarium– Save the Manatee ClubSave the Manatee Club– SeaWorld FloridaSeaWorld Florida– U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service– USGC’s Sirenia ProjectUSGC’s Sirenia Project– Wildlife TrustWildlife Trust

Established in 2001, the partnership is a cooperative Established in 2001, the partnership is a cooperative group of non-profit, private, state, and federal entities with a group of non-profit, private, state, and federal entities with a stake in tracking the post-release fate of rehabilitated stake in tracking the post-release fate of rehabilitated manatees in the wild.manatees in the wild.

The rehabilitation The rehabilitation program treats and program treats and rehabilitates sick and rehabilitates sick and injured manatees and injured manatees and returns them to the returns them to the wildwild

The manatees are The manatees are then tracked to then tracked to determine how determine how successful the successful the program was to their program was to their recoveryrecovery

Rehabilitation CentersRehabilitation Centers There are three federally permitted manatee There are three federally permitted manatee

rehabilitation centers:rehabilitation centers:– Lowry Park ZooLowry Park Zoo– Miami SeaquariumMiami Seaquarium– SeaWorld FloridaSeaWorld Florida

Other facilities are equipped to handle manatees that Other facilities are equipped to handle manatees that are no longer receiving acute care treatmentare no longer receiving acute care treatment

– Columbus ZooColumbus Zoo– Cincinnati ZooCincinnati Zoo– EPCOT-Living SeasEPCOT-Living Seas– Homosassa Springs State Wildlife ParkHomosassa Springs State Wildlife Park– SeaWorld CaliforniaSeaWorld California

Passage of a statewide boating speed limitPassage of a statewide boating speed limit– Encourages faster boats to move out of inland Encourages faster boats to move out of inland

waterways into the gulf and open oceanwaterways into the gulf and open ocean

Mandatory installation of propeller guards on Mandatory installation of propeller guards on all power boatsall power boats

Equipping boats with underwater alarmsEquipping boats with underwater alarms

Never enter a designated manatee Never enter a designated manatee sanctuarysanctuary

Never attempt to touch a manatee and avoid Never attempt to touch a manatee and avoid loud noises and splashingloud noises and splashing

Do not feed manatees or give them waterDo not feed manatees or give them water When observing manatees, use a snorkelWhen observing manatees, use a snorkel

– Scuba gear sounds can cause manatees to Scuba gear sounds can cause manatees to leave the arealeave the area