MANATEE AND ECOSYSTEM AWARENESS
Manatees are protected by state and federal law and all boat operators must keep a constant watch for the endangered manatee, especially in designated manatee zone areas. Always operate in a prudent manner in and around known manatee habitats and obey designated manatee zone areas.
- It is illegal to harass, hunt, capture or kill any marine mammal, including manatees. Anything that disrupts a manatee’s normal behavior is a violation of law, punishable under federal law up to a $50,000 fine, one-year imprisonment or both.
Sea grasses are the principle food for endangered marine herbivores, such as manatees and green turtles, and act as natural filters to help purify the water and provide a suitable environment for a wide variety of marine life.
- Boaters should make all available attempts to avoid running through sea grass beds.
- Navigation charts identify sea grass beds as light green or marked as “grs” on the chart.
- Boaters should make all possible attempts to stay within channels when unfamiliar with a waterway. Avoid taking shortcuts through sea grass beds to avoid causing propeller scars.
- It is a violation of Florida law to damage sea grass beds in some areas within state waters.
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