Study Shows 1 Out Of 4 Manatees Have Scars From 10 Boat Strikes

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — There's little doubt who had the right of way when a kayaker came upon a parade of manatees swimming in shallow waters off the coast of Pinellas County.

Michael McCarthy, a marine photographer and videographer as well as the owner of See Through Canoe in Seminole, posted videos showing that these sea cows brook no argument when it comes to their right to swim these waters. The 990-pound manatees will inevitably win if a kayaker or canoeist encounters them.

Unfortunately, the same doesn't apply when manatees go up against a motorboat weighing 3,000 pounds or more.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, last year 90 manatees perished after being injured by watercraft propellers. And in the first three months of 2021, 17 manatees have been killed by watercraft in Florida waters.

Watercraft account for 20 to 25 percent of all manatee deaths. Boats can cause both sharp and blunt-force trauma, either of which can kill a manatee, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute in St. Petersburg

See related stories:

• Manatee Death Rate Surges In FL During First Months Of 2021
• Video: Rare Twin Manatee Calves Spotted By See Through Canoe

But not all manatees struck by boats succumb to their wounds.

The research institute has completed a study of 10 years of Florida manatee necropsy reports to characterize and quantify watercraft-related scarring. The researchers found that one out of every four adult carcasses analyzed in their study bore evidence of 10 or more watercraft strikes.

Only 4 percent of adult manatees had no watercraft-related scars.

The study concluded that manatees are subjected to more watercraft strikes than any other studied marine mammal, and it underscored the need for continued long-term conservation actions in Florida, said the research institute.

In response, the 2021 Florida Legislature is considering a bill that would require anyone operating a boat, regardless of age, to pass a safety education test that includes ways to avoid harming manatees while boating.

Current regulations mandate that only people born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, successfully complete a boater safety course.

House Bill 639 and Senate Bill 1086 would make it illegal for anyone who doesn't have a boater safety ID card to operate a boat, starting Jan. 1, 2023.

The national nonprofit endangered species organization Center for Biological Diversity, which has an office in St. Petersburg, is urging the legislature to pass the boating safety bill, which was introduced by the FWC.

"The bill will help save manatees and other creatures from painful, needless boat-crash deaths while improving public safety," said Sarah Gledhill of the center. "There's no downside. When you look at the leading causes of manatee fatalities, one of which is boat strikes, this is a natural, common-sense measure that we can take to help reduce manatee deaths."

While Florida is the nation's boating capital, Gledhill said boaters enjoying Florida's waters need to remember that they share the ocean with vulnerable wildlife.

“This isn’t about infringing on anyone’s rights but about how we can coexist with wildlife while recreating on Florida’s waters,” she said.

Ways you can help manatees:

• Call FWC’s Wildlife Alert toll-free number: 1-888-404-FWCC (1-888-404-3922) or #FWC on a cell phone if you see a sick, injured, dead or tagged manatee.
• Boaters will find them easier to spot if they wear polarized sunglasses and keep a lookout for signs of manatees such as the circular “footprints” they trace on the top of the water or their snouts sticking up out the water.
• Look, but don’t touch manatees. Keep your distance when boating, even if you are steering a canoe, kayak or paddleboard. Be a good role model for others so that they learn how to watch and enjoy manatees without disturbing the animals.
• The plate you buy matters; support FWC manatee rescues and research. Next time you renew your tag, consider a “Save the Manatee” license plate.
• Show your support for manatee conservation by proudly displaying a manatee decal. These high-quality stickers feature original artwork and are available from local Tax Collector’s offices or through the FWC website with a $5 donation.

To learn more about protecting the manatee, click here.