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As the busy 4th of July holiday approaches, Save the Manatee Club reminds boaters, vacationers, and residents to follow a few simple guidelines to protect manatees.

Suggested Social Media Post: As you celebrate this July 4th, be mindful of boating speeds and travel routes to ensure a safe holiday for you and manatees. Check out @savethemanateeclub for more ways to protect manatees. #ManateeSafeBoating

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—June 25, 2024
Contact: media@savethemanatee.org, 407-539-0990

LONGWOOD, FL— As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day, Save the Manatee Club is reminding boaters and holiday revelers to take extra precautions to protect manatees. During the summer, manatees are found throughout Florida as well as parts of Alabama, Georgia, and the Carolinas. However, a few can travel as far west as Texas and as far north as Massachusetts, and last summer, manatees were sighted in both Texas and Rhode Island.

During the summer, manatees can be spotted in shallow, slow-moving fresh, brackish, and saltwater areas, especially in areas with abundant seagrass or aquatic vegetation. This leaves these gentle giants especially vulnerable during busy boating seasons, and July 4th is one of the busiest times on Florida’s waterways.

“We want everyone to enjoy their July 4th celebrations, but it’s crucial to do so responsibly,” said Patrick Rose, Executive Director at Save the Manatee Club. “By following a few simple guidelines, boaters can help ensure the safety and wellbeing of manatees.” 

To protect manatees this July 4th, Save the Manatee Club is calling on all water enthusiasts to follow essential manatee safety tips to ensure the well-being of the imperiled manatee: 

• Obey Speed Zone Signs: Familiarize yourself with and adhere to posted speed limits to prevent collisions with manatees. 
• Reduce Glare with Polarized Sunglasses: Wear polarized sunglasses to enhance visibility and spot manatees below the water’s surface. 
• Recognize Signs of Manatees: Learn to identify signs of manatees in the area, such as swirls or flat spots on the water caused by their movements. 
• Respect Manatee Sanctuaries: Keep a safe distance from posted manatee sanctuaries and avoid pursuing or harassing these marine mammals, as it is illegal and can disrupt their natural behaviors. 
• Report Distressed Manatees: In Florida, promptly report distressed, injured, tagged, or orphaned manatees to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922). Outside of Florida, report sightings to the appropriate state agency or rescue organization. A list of agencies to contact is available at savethemanatee.org/report. 
• Protect Seagrass Beds: Avoid boating over seagrass beds and shallow areas where manatees may be feeding. Stick to deep water channels while remaining vigilant, as manatees also utilize these channels during their travels. 
• Dispose of Fishing Line Responsibly: Anglers should properly dispose of or recycle used fishing line to prevent entanglement hazards for manatees.

“With the recent Unusual Mortality Event on Florida’s East Coast claiming an alarming number of manatees’ lives, it is crucial to avoid preventable deaths caused by watercraft collisions. By following manatee-safe boating guidelines, such as obeying speed zones and remaining vigilant for manatees, everyone on the water can contribute to the protection of these gentle giants,” said Rose. 

This holiday also serves as a reminder that Save the Manatee Club offers a range of free materials to help safeguard manatees and raise awareness about manatee-safe boating practices. Shoreline property owners and park or marina managers can order aluminum dock signs to alert others about the presence of manatees in their areas. Boaters and paddlers can request packets containing a safety tips card, a waterproof boat banner, and a decal to display on their vessels, providing the number to report manatees in distress. To view and request these materials, visit savethemanatee.org/resources.

To promote manatee-safe boating, Save the Manatee Club is also proud to offer press-ready PSAs in multiple sizes, including full, 1/2, 1/3, and 1/4 page high-resolution PDFs for summer publications. These PSAs emphasize the importance of respecting manatees through passive observation and supporting the conservation efforts of Save the Manatee Club through the Adopt-a-Manatee® program. Our PSAs are customizable to fit any available space.  

In addition, we provide audio and video spots featuring the late singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett, a co-founder of Save the Manatee Club. These spots come in lengths of 15, 30, or 60 seconds. We also offer several other 30-second public service announcements addressing various manatee-related issues, including safe boating practices. To access these resources, visit savethemanatee.org/psas. For media inquiries and to receive the files, please email media@savethemanatee.org.

For more information about manatee safety tips or to request materials, please visit savethemanatee.org or contact Save the Manatee Club at education@savethemanatee.org.

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Save the Manatee Club, established in 1981 by the late renowned singer-songwriter, author, and entrepreneur Jimmy Buffett, along with the late former Florida Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham, is dedicated to safeguarding manatees and preserving their aquatic habitat. For more information about manatees and the Club’s efforts, visit savethemanatee.org or call 1-800-432-JOIN (5646).