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Manatees

Modern Mermaid in Distress

Scientific names: Trichechus manatus

VIDEO: Hear Ocean Conservancy's Wildlife Manager Jessica Koelsch’s story in her own words and then donate to help save the manatees.

Once mistaken for mermaids by lonely sailors, slow-moving manatees roam coastal waterways in the Southeastern United States. So do ships and fast-moving recreational boats, which injure and kill dozens of these endangered animals each year. In fact, most manatees in Florida bear scars or deformities from being run over by boats and cut by boat propellers.

These gentle giants, which range in length from 10 to 12 feet and weight between 1,000 and 1,800 pounds, inhabit rivers, springs, bays, estuaries and canals. They propel themselves with fore-flippers and a large, paddle-shaped tail, feeding on submerged and floating plants. Related species of manatees swim the waters of Puerto Rico and coastal areas of the Caribbean and Central and South America.

Threats to Manatees

Although no longer hunted for their meat, oil, and tough hide, they are still endangered by humans. Listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, Florida manatees number about 3,500 individuals. These fairly large, slow-moving animals should be easy to see, yet power boats pose their greatest threat —killing as many as 80 and injuring countless others each year. They also become entangled in trash in the ocean and die, or become sickened when they eat it. And they can be crushed in flood gates and canal locks. In the last decade, manatee mortality averaged over 200 individuals per year, of which 60 to 80 were killed by speedboaters. Recently, annual deaths have risen to more than 300 a year.

What Ocean Conservancy Is Doing to Help

Ocean Conservancy works to reduce threats to manatees. We are helping to develop state and federal plans that establish speed zones in manatee habitats. We also propose new areas for manatee sanctuaries. We are reducing the threat of entanglement in marine debris by conducting underwater monofilament clean-ups and telling fishers how they can properly dispose of fishing line. And every year volunteers with the International Coastal Cleanup remove huge amounts of dangerous debris from the water.

In 2007, Florida manatees faced an interesting situation. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was developing a Manatee Management Plan including conservation, research, and management priorities. At the same time, the Commission was considering "down-listing" manatees on Florida's Imperiled Species List from endangered to threatened. One action would have benefited manatee protection; the other might have hindered it. In response, Ocean Conservancy worked with agency staff to develop a strong Manatee Management Plan while opposing the down-listing, which was based on flawed criteria.

We succeeded on both counts. In December 2007, the FWC approved the Manatee Management Plan, but also deferred a decision on down-listing so they could re-evaluate the listing criteria. We continue to work closely with the FWC as they develop appropriate, objective, and science-based classification criteria.

Ocean Conservancy is also a leader in encouraging dialogue between conservationists and boaters. By discovering shared goals, these groups can work together to find "common water"—so Florida's favorite marine mammals can continue to thrive, and boaters can continue to boat.

What You Can Do to Help

• Join Ocean Conservancy's online community to learn more and stay up-to-date on ocean issues.
• Be a manatee-friendly boater. When boating, obey posted speed zones, go slowly in shallow waters where manatees tend to rest and feed, wear polarized sunglasses to reduce glare so you can see them in the water, never allow fishing line or other debris overboard, and watch for signs of manatees.
• Clean up marine debris. Always pick up litter, and participate in volunteer events like Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup.
• Be respectful. If you see manatees in the wild, respect their natural behaviors. Never disturb them—especially those resting or feeding, or mothers with calves. Never give them food or fresh water.

© Copyright 2010 Ocean Conservancy
The Ocean Conservancy, International Coastal Cleanup and Ocean Action Network are registered trademarks of Ocean Conservancy.

Visit www.oceanconservancy.org/contactus for regional office addresses and email information.

Printed on , © Copyright 2010 Ocean Conservancy
The Ocean Conservancy, International Coastal Cleanup and Ocean Action Network are registered trademarks of Ocean Conservancy.

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