News

Amid ongoing mortality crisis, protecting Florida’s manatees is more critical than ever

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—October 28, 2022
Contact: media@savethemanatee.org, 407-539-0990

MAITLAND, FL—November is Manatee Awareness Month, an annual opportunity to celebrate Florida’s state marine mammal and raise awareness of the ongoing threats to manatees and their aquatic habitat. Manatee Awareness Month was first declared in 1979 by former Florida Governor and Save the Manatee Club (SMC) co-founder Bob Graham.

November is the perfect month to celebrate manatees, as it is the month in which these semi-migratory aquatic mammals usually begin returning to Florida’s warm-water springs and refuges. Despite their size, manatees have slower metabolisms and fewer fat layers than other marine mammals, so they cannot survive prolonged exposure to cold water temperatures. Once the water temperature dips below 68º F, they need to aggregate at warm water sources such as Florida’s natural springs or power plant effluents.

“As manatees move to warmer waters in Florida, it is imperative that everyone who enjoys Florida’s waterways does their part to look out for manatees,” said Patrick Rose, aquatic biologist and executive director of Save the Manatee Club. “Collisions with watercraft, harassment by humans, cold stress, and starvation as a result of the ongoing seagrass loss in the Indian River Lagoon are all known threats to the manatee population. Members of the public can play a direct and critical role in protecting manatees by being aware of their presence in the water, learning how to recognize if something is wrong, and knowing how to report problems to the Fish and Wildlife Commission at 888-404-FWCC (3922).”

Throughout Manatee Awareness Month, Save the Manatee Club will be sharing manatee facts, videos, quizzes, and opportunities to take action on its website at savethemanatee.org/MAM. SMC will also host a free webinar “Research at Blue Spring” on November 15 at 6:00pm EST to share how researchers identify and count manatees at Blue Spring State Park in Orange City, FL, and why Blue Spring is such an important manatee refuge and sanctuary.

SMC also offers free materials for boaters, paddlers, and waterfront property owners to help promote manatee safety, including aluminum “Slow Please” signs, a waterproof decal with information on how to report a manatee in distress, and a “Manatees Below” banner. Supporters can view available resources and learn how to request them at savethemanatee.org/resources.

Any manatee that may be sick, injured, entangled, or orphaned, or a manatee that is being harassed or is fitted with a tracking device should be immediately reported to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) by calling 1-888-404-3922 or by texting “FWC” followed by any relevant details to 847411.

###

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).