ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A sign warning boaters of a manatee zone in the San Sebastian River is missing, and boaters are worried for the safety of manatees swimming in the waters.
Boaters said the sign warned boaters to slow down to about 5 miles-per-hour, but now that the sign isn't there, boaters say many people aren't slowing down.
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Donald Sampson, a boater, told News4Jax many manatees have their backs scraped up, and it's because people aren't using caution.
Pictures given to News4Jax show some manatees that have clearly been hit.
"Most of the manatees are smart, but are very slow moving, so they can't get out of the way if a boat is doing 25 or 30 miles-per-hour," Sampson said. "It doesn't really matter the size of the boat. It's a fact - it's got an engine and propeller."
Sampson said there used to be a roughly six by eight foot sign warning boater of the manatees and telling them to slow down.
"The posts are still there, but the sign is gone," Samson said. "It's been gone for close to two years now an nobody has bothered to put it back up.
Sampson said he and other boaters have contacted Florida Fish and Wildlife about the sign. He said it's aware the sign is missing and still hasn't replaced it.
News4Jax has reached out to FWC and is waiting to hear back.