The scientists examine the fish, then tag them and place them in an underwater cage for several days. Then they bring up the cages to see which fish survived. Early results of the Washington research indicate that halibut are most likely to survive if they are returned to the water within 20 minutes of being caught. CoastWatch is a public information service of Oregon Sea Grant and this station. The animals can be hard to spot from a boat, especially if the boat is moving fast.
Scientists say the number of manatees in Florida had been rising slowly but surely until last year.
But the animals reproduce slowly, and they could need 10 years or longer to recover from the losses of 1996. CoastWatch is a public information service of Oregon Sea Grant and this station.