- SeaWorld Press Releases: http://www.seaworld.com/sitepage.aspx?PageID=116
- Florida FWC Manatee Information: http://myfwc.com/WILDLIFEHABITATS/manatee_index.htm
Friday, July 31, 2009
SeaWorld Releases Another Manatee!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Group Petitions to Ban Swim-with-Manatee Tours
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) has formally petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ban swimming with manatees. According to a quote published on wtsp.com, the Florida director of PEER said, "The next stop would be litigation and we're keeping all options open at this point." As a manatee scientist and conservationist, I have written to PEER encouraging them to re-examine their proposal to ban swimming with manatees. Here is my argument against the ban: A ban on swim-with-manatee tour operations will have little or no impact on the overall conservation of manatees and manatee habitat in Florida. Resources would be much better spent working towards a viable compromise that reduces or eliminates manatee harassment, increases conservation awareness, recruits manatee advocates, and supports the local community. I honestly don't understand why PEER, or any other national-level organization, would take such a radical position on an issue that is primarily a problem in one small town, Crystal River, Florida. Despite a prediction by Shackley (1992) that swim-with-manatee tours would be the final nail in the manatee's coffin, the manatee population in Crystal River has increased dramatically over the past 2 decades. As an alternative to banning a commercial industry the supports manatee conservation and provides a strong economic base in Crystal River, I would encourage all stakeholders to work together to establish limits of acceptable change, stricter rules, and stronger enforcement (see Sorice et al. 2003, 2006). Most tour operators in Crystal River are strong advocates for manatee conservation. They educate and instill values in the general public and recruit new advocates for manatee conservation each day as a result of their tours. Yes, there are serious problems, but a ban on commercial swimming with manatees is not the solution. First and foremost, the federal (USFWS) and state (FL FWCC) agencies MUST publish guidelines that are congruous, including a NO TOUCH rule! Documents published by the USFWS and the FL FWC do not agree. The FL FWC html document (http://myfwc.com/WildlifeHabitats/Manatee_ViewingGuide.htm) clearly says "look but don't touch" online but the PDF version does not (http://myfwc.com/docs/WildlifeHabitats/Manatee_FLTreasure_bklt.pdf). The US FWS guidelines say don't poke, chase, kick, etc., which may leave the swimmer to think it's OK touch or pet gently. In a PR dated 12 March 2007 (http://www.fws.gov/northflorida/Releases-07/001-07-Joint-FWS-FWC-manattee-harassment-031207.htm) the US FWS says that intentionally touching manatees is illegal. But, the guidelines further down the press release and posted elsewhere only say "Never ride, chase, poke or surround manatees." In the US FWS Manatee Manners video (http://www.fws.gov/video/FLASH/manateemanners.html), swimmers are shown touching manatees during the clip that says "don't poke, etc.," again leaving the swimmer thinking that gentle touching is OK. This video should be re-done removing any clips that show swimmers touching manatees. Yes, tighter rules are needed, including a requirement to use licensed guides, a no touch rule, and limits on the number of people in the habitat at any given time. Yes, enforcement is lacking, but that could be dealt with through peer pressure, as well as through education and licensing processes. A lottery model, like the one for whale sharks in Belize, would work to control the number of people in the habitat during the peak season. Of all the possible charismatic megafaunal ambassadors from the wild, manatees are absolutely the best suited to interact with humans. Let's work together with the tour operators and other resource users, not try to put them out of business! Literature Cited
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Snooty the Manatee Celebrates his 61st Birthday!
In 1949, Snooty was moved to Bradenton as part of the Desoto Celebration where he has greeted more than one million visitors. Snooty is South Florida Museum's very own ambassador and as such he has participated in research, education, and conservation project through New College, Mote Marine Lab, and the Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership. On a daily basis, he helps musuem docents give interpretive talks to visitors of all ages.
The Parker Manatee Aquarium, built to house up to 3 adult manatees, opened in November 1993. In February 1998, as part of the Manatee Rehabilitation Network, Snooty welcomed his first pool-mate “Newton”. Since then, Snooty has also shared his pool with Mo, Palma Sola, Desoto Park, Salvador, Angelito, Fort Myers Baby, Passe Grille Baby, Whitaker, Muddy Baron, Baby Coral, Little Coral, Snitch, Baby Coral & Baby Sister. These manatees were rescued through the Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership, rehabilitated at Parker, and released back into the wild. In the United States, our laws require that all captive manatees be released into the wild population if possible. However, Snooty is "grandfathered" under this law, meaning he was in captivity prior to the law being passed and does not have to be released into the wild.
Learn more about Snooty here: http://www.southfloridamuseum.org/
Track released manatees here: www.wildtracks.org.
More Birthday photos here: http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/generic/photos/snooty_turns_61/
"New" Manatee in Chesapeake Bay
Miami-Based Manatee Is Spotted in Chesapeake Bay
By Martin WeilWashington Post Staff WriterTuesday, July 21, 2009
In an unusual northern foray, a manatee has made its way into the upper reaches of the Chesapeake Bay, authorities said last night. The sighting, made Saturday in waters off of Havre de Grace, Md., was confirmed by photos, said Jennifer Dittmar of the National Aquarium. Dittmar, the aquarium's coordinator for the marine animal rescue program, said the photographs also made it possible to identify the manatee by name: Ilya. "That makes this a pretty unique case," she said last night.
28 July 2009, posted by Caryn: Ilya continues to hang out in the Chesapeake Bay and the mouth of the Susquhanna River near Perryville, MD. Staff from the National Aquarium in Baltimore are monitoring him closely. Manatees are sighted in the Chesapeake Bay annually during the summer and fall months, often as late as October. It's great to get such good photos of this one, who could be identified by his scars and paddle. Updates, stories, and photos here:
- http://www.daggerpress.com/2009/07/28/ilya-the-manatee-surfaces-for-photo-ops-in-harford-and-cecil/
- http://www.daggerpress.com/2009/07/21/wayward-manatee-surfaces-in-havre-de-grace-boat-cautiously-til-the-sea-cows-come-home/
- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/20/AR2009072003690.html