Manatees need your help in Sebastian: Go slow, look out below

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is asking residents and visitors in Sebastian and Florida to help keep manatees safe, especially while out on the water.

“As water temperatures warm, manatees naturally disperse from their winter habitats, traveling to other areas of the state and beyond,” FWC said in a statement.

“Manatees are leaving their winter refuges and are more likely to be in rivers, canals and nearshore waters. Florida boaters are also enjoying the season, so it is crucial to stay alert and avoid manatees while traveling through Florida’s waterways,” the agency said.

From April 1 through Nov. 15, seasonal manatee zones require boaters to slow down in certain areas to prevent manatees from being injured or killed by motorboats or personal watercrafts. Boat strikes are a major threat to Florida manatees. FWC law enforcement officers are on patrol in state waters to remind boaters of the seasonal manatee speed zones and take enforcement actions.

Manatees can be difficult to detect when they are underwater, so it is important for operators of boats and personal watercrafts to be vigilant. You can help protect manatees by following these simple guidelines:

• Wear polarized sunglasses to help spot manatees.
• Avoid boating in shallow areas where manatees graze on seagrass.
• Look for large circles on the water, also known as manatee footprints, indicating the presence of a manatee below.
• Look for a snout sticking up out of the water.
• Follow posted manatee zones while boating.
• Never push a stranded manatee back into the water.
• Report injured, distressed, sick or dead manatees to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) or by dialing #FWC or *FWC on a cellphone so trained responders can assist.

“We’re asking the public to be exceptionally vigilant watching for manatees when out on the water, as the FWC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service continue to respond to a high level of manatee deaths along Florida’s east coast,” said Michelle Pasawicz, Manatee Management Program Lead for the FWC. “By obeying speed zones, wearing polarized glasses and keeping a watchful eye on the water, you can make an immediate difference in manatee conservation.”

Resources for boaters, educators and other interested members of the public are available at MyFWC.com/Manatee. Click the page’s “Information & Guidelines” tab for helpful tips on respectfully viewing manatees, additional guidelines for boat and personal watercraft operators, and information on what you can do to help these amazing aquatic mammals.

To learn more about the manatee unusual mortality event, click on the “Learn More” on the top of the page at MyFWC.com/Manatee.

FWC’s Manatee Research

Are you interested in supporting the FWC’s manatee research, rescue and management efforts? You can purchase a “Save the Manatee” Florida license plate, or donate $5 to receive an FWC manatee decal. Both are available from your local Tax Collector’s office.