JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Multiple law-enforcement agencies want to remind boaters of what to do if they see manatees while out on the water this summer.
They're an icon in Florida and it's hard to imagine the St. Johns River without them.
As the water warms up, more boaters have been out on the water enjoying the return of summer -- but so are the gentle giants in Florida.
It's home sweet home for the manatees and they're on the move, heading back home from a winter retreat, which means boaters need to slow down.
“A lot of times people operating personal watercrafts think because they have no propeller, they're fine to operate close in to shore. They need to obey the same rules as everybody else on the water,” said Quinton White, executive director of Jacksonville University Marine Science Research Institute.
Officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, U.S. Coast Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Nassau County Sheriff's Office want boaters to pay attention, especially around manatee zones.
The zones can be confusing but boaters need to look out for the “SLOW SPEED” sign with flashing lights. If they see that sign, it means they need to slow down from 25 mph to no wake.
There are several tips boaters should follow to avoid hurting a manatee:
- Don't forget sunglasses -- Polarized sunglasses can reduce the glare off the water, making it easier to watch for swirls in the water that indicate the presence of a manatee.
- Do not try to feed or touch a manatee.
- If boating in an unfamiliar area, try to stay under 25 mph and away from the shoreline.
"It's that blunt thrust trauma that will kill a manatee. And going as slow as 14 mph will kill a manatee," White said.
One manatee has already died this year from a boat collision, FWC said, which equals the total from last year. FWC said enforcing these manatee zones has allowed the population to grow to more than 6,000. Even so, the species is still classified as endangered.
Anyone who collides with a manatee or sees an injured manatee is asked to please call FWC at 1-888-404-FWCC.