JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As the manatee population in the Sunshine State rises from endangered to threatened, an increasing population of Floridians and boaters means the mammals face more threats.
A manatee was hit and killed by a boat in the Mayport area on Wednesday afternoon, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission [FWC].
Craig Miller, the Curator of Mammals at the Jacksonville Zoo and the lead source in the Marine Mammal Response Team made of different agencies, said the Fourth of July weekend is particularly dangerous for manatees.
"There are some manatees out there that have lost most of their tail," Miller said. "I've heard of one that even completely lost its tail, but is still surviving because it has its two pectoral flippers."
Federal and state laws remain in place to protect manatees and other similarly threatened marine mammals. The Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act prohibits any action that would "molest, harass, collide with, injure or harm manatees." Violation of that law would be a misdemeanor, which could result in an up to $500 fine and 60 days in jail.
Still, boat strikes remain a serious threat to manatees in Florida waters.
"You'll see animals that are buoyant if they have been struck," Miller said. "They're floating high in the water because they have a punctured lung. You may see actual cuts from a propeller."
So what can you do?
Miller and the FWC have established tips for boating safety that can prevent many of these deadly strikes:
- Always follow posted speed limits. In many waterways, these limits are meant to protect manatees.
- Try to wear polarized sunglasses to help you see while navigating.
- If you do see a manatee, make sure not to touch or feed it to keep from changing its behavior. Also, give it plenty of room.
- Make sure to keep an eye out for the "footprint" created by a manatee's tail.
"A circular area in the water," Miller said. "It's distinct, about manhole cover size and it expands out. If you see that certainly slow down, and there's a chance you might see a manatee stick its nose out of the water."
FWC numbers show the current manatee population just over 5,700 in Florida. That's an increase from just over 4,800 in 2014, around 3,800 in 2009, and just over 2,300 two decades ago in 1999.