Protecting Florida's Gentle Giants: A Guide to Manatee Awareness and Conservation
Florida is home to a unique and beloved marine mammal: the manatee. These gentle giants, often referred to as "sea cows," play a crucial role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems. However, manatees face numerous threats that put their survival at risk. Let’s explore the challenges manatees face, their importance in the ecosystem, and provide tips on how to protect them while boating.
Manatees: Nature's Seagrass Gardeners
Manatees play a vital role in Florida's marine ecosystems, extending beyond their charm. As primary grazers of seagrass, they help maintain healthy seagrass beds by promoting new growth and preventing overgrowth, which can cause ecological imbalances. These healthy seagrass beds, in turn, provide habitat and food for various marine life, supporting biodiversity. Additionally, manatees contribute to nutrient cycling in aquatic ecosystems by distributing nutrients through their feeding habits, enhancing overall ecosystem health.
By practicing manatee-friendly boating, raising awareness about their importance, and supporting conservation efforts, we can help ensure these gentle giants continue to thrive in our waters.
Why Manatees need us to Take Action now
Manatees in Florida face numerous challenges, making it crucial to take action now. Obstructions like sediment buildup threaten their survival, and reconnecting their freshwater and marine habitats is essential. Manatees ingesting plastic and boat collisions are also significant issues. However, the biggest threat is the loss of seagrass beds, their primary food source, due to degraded water quality.
From 2020 to 2022, about 2,500 manatees died, many from starvation, particularly in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), where seagrass is disappearing due to nitrogen and phosphorus runoff causing harmful algal blooms. By 2022, the lagoon had lost 46,000 acres of seagrass. Tampa Bay has also lost 12% of its seagrass in the past two years. Research now shows that human waste from septic tanks, not just fertilizer runoff, significantly contributes to these blooms. Brevard County alone has 53,000 septic systems that add nearly 400,000 pounds of nitrogen to the IRL annually. Immediate action is needed to address these issues and protect manatees and their habitats.
Join the Manatee Mission: How You Can Help!
Slow Down for Manatees
Manatees are often found in shallow waters, where they can easily be struck by fast-moving boats. Always adhere to posted speed limits and slow down in manatee zones.
Watch for Signs
Look for signs of manatee presence, such as circular patterns on the water's surface (known as manatee footprints) or their snouts breaking the water. If you see these signs, slow down and proceed with caution.
Avoid Seagrass Beds
Manatees feed on seagrass, so be mindful of where you anchor your boat. Avoid areas with dense seagrass to prevent damaging their food source.
Keep Manatee Habitats Clean
Join cleanup events at shorelines, beaches, parks, or roadsides to preserve manatee habitats. When outdoors, responsibly pick up litter and discarded fishing line.
Say No to Rainy Season Fertilizing
Refrain from fertilizing lawns and gardens during South Florida's rainy season (typically June to September). This reduces harmful chemical runoff into coastal waters, preserving water quality crucial for manatees and other marine life.
Manatee-Friendly Boating Tips
Here are some tips to keep in mind:
Wear Polarized Sunglasses: They can help you spot manatees underwater and prevent collisions.
Install a Propeller Guard: Consider installing a propeller guard on your boat to reduce harm to manatees and marine life.
Secure Your Stuff: Carry a lidded container for plastic bags and fishing line. Collect and dispose of all plastic items and fishing line to prevent marine pollution.
Be Ready to Report: If you encounter an injured or distressed manatee, contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922) to report the sighting.
Manatees are integral to Florida's natural heritage and marine ecosystems. By practicing manatee-friendly boating, raising awareness about their importance, and supporting conservation efforts, we can help ensure these gentle giants continue to thrive in our waters. Next time you're out on the water, remember the crucial role you play in protecting Florida's manatees.
Together, we can make a difference for these incredible creatures and the ecosystems they help sustain. Let's work towards a future where manatees are safe, healthy, and abundant in Florida's waters.
Join our Egmont Key Alliance Today to directly make an impact on our beloved coast!
References:
Lapointe, B. E., Brewton, R. A., Wilking, L. E., Herren, L. W. (2023). Fertilizer restrictions are not sufficient to mitigate nutrient pollution and harmful algal blooms in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University. Available online: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0025326X23004733
Hernandez, X. (2024). Why manatees are so crucial to Florida's economy and environment. NBC Miami. Available online: https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/why-manatees-are-so-crucial-to-floridas-economy-and-environment/3270559/
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). (n.d.). Manatee Habitat. Retrieved from https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/manatee/habitat/
NOAA Ocean Today. (n.d.). Endangered Ocean: Manatees. Retrieved from https://oceantoday.noaa.gov/endoceanmanatees/#:~:text=But%20don't%20let%20their,of%20the%20sea%20grass%20beds.
McCormick, M. (2024, January 17). Save the Seagrass to Save Manatees. Available online: [Link not provided]
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). (n.d.). Florida Manatee Program. Retrieved from https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/manatee/
Marsh, J. (2022, August 2). How We Can Protect The Manatee And Prevent Seagrass Loss. Environment.co. Available online: https://www.endangered.org/how-we-can-protect-the-manatee-and-prevent-seagrass-loss/
Environment America. (n.d.). Save the Seagrass to Save Manatees. Retrieved from https://environmentamerica.org/florida/articles/save-the-seagrass-to-save-manatees/
