Take Action for Florida Manatees

Florida manatees need all the support they can get.  Take a minute to educate yourself or to contact the Governor or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to tell them you oppose downlisting the manatees.

Simple Things You Can Do While Boating In Manatee Waters

  • Always obey posted speed zone waterway signs but remember – manatees could be anywhere
  • Always wear polarized sunglasses to reduce glare for best visibility beneath the surface of the water
  • Keep a look out for “signs” of manatees, such as a snout breaking the surface or swirl or flat spot in the water caused by a swimming manatee’s tail
  • Stay in deep water channels and avoid boating over shallow seagrass beds where manatees may be feeding

Simple Things You Can Do While Viewing Manatees in the Wild

  • Stay at the surface, at a distance, and never approach a resting or feeding manatee
  • Stay out of posted manatee sanctuaries
  • Never separate a mother and calf pair
  • Do not touch, poke, ride, or chase manatees in the wild
  • Use only snorkel gear in manatee habitat; SCUBA gear is noisy

Tell Florida’s Governor Charlie Crist that the Florida manatee should Not be downlisted.

The state of Florida is finishing its Manatee Management Plan - the final phase in their effort to downlist manatees from “Endangered” to “Threatened” on the state level. With the escalating threats to manatees and their habitat, Defenders thinks this downlisting action is premature. Tell Florida’s Governor Charlie Crist you think so, too!

Tell the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service That Manatees Should Not be Downlisted.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has completed its 5-year review of the status of the Florida manatee. However, the change in status is not yet finalized so it’s not too late to let the Service know that the threats to manatees are increasing and they should not downlist manatees until these threats are under control.

Comments can be emailed to the Service: Manatee@fws.gov

Read the Florida manatee 5-year review

Stop Manatee Harassment in the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge

The Crystal River Refuge was created to protect manatees. Unfortunately, tens of thousands of people come to the refuge each winter season to swim with manatees. Harassment of manatees at the refuge has reached epic proportions. Help shape the new Refuge Management Plan by asking for an end to manatee harassment in the refuge.

Read more on manatee harassment and watch a video of manatee harassment