We offer the following boating information and tips in the hope that the well-being and safety of both boaters and the environment will result. A prime cause of their decline is careless boating. Their bodies are gashed and mauled by the propellers of speedboats as the animals cruise just below the surface. Be alert to signs of manatee presence - swirls, tip of snout breaking the water when surfacing to breathe. Obey posted speed and manatee caution signs.
Manatees move slowly and have difficulty evading boats operating at planing speeds.
Even slow moving boats can hurt manatees when clearance is inadequate. Avoid or idle slowly across shallow grass beds, where manatees feed and rest. Lift your engine to avoid prop dredging if the tide in an area too shallow catches you for your draft. Stow your trash and retrieve any snagged monofilament fishing line. Dispose of these items on shore.