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Florida Manatee Program

The Florida manatee is a native species found in all parts of the State. Protections for Florida manatees were first enacted in 1893. Today, they are protected by the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act (§379.2431(2), Florida Statutes) and are federally protected by both the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act.

FWC helps to protect and conserve manatees and their habitat through:

the Division of Habitat and Species Conservation
- Imperiled Species Management Section (ISM) and
- Aquatic Habitat Conservation & Restoration Section
the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI),
and the the Division of Law Enforcement (LE)

Imperiled Species Management Section (ISM)

FWC - Imperiled Species Management Section (ISM) staff conduct reviews of Manatee Protection Plans, environmental resource permits, and other types of planning documents such as comprehensive plans.

FWC-ISM staff also oversee the process of promulgating manatee protection boat speed and access rules and administer activities related to these zones, including permit and variance reviews. Staff evaluate data and develop proposed rules for consideration by the Commission.

Headlines

FWC installs manatee camera at Three Sisters Springs.
FWC set up a camera that streams live video to a public website, allowing remote viewing of manatee activity. The camera is fully solar-powered, will operate from dawn to dusk, and allows 30 visitors at a time.
It may take several minutes when visiting the site for the first time for visitors to be prompted to install ActiveX.
The Manatee Decal Art Contest is back!
FWC is again sponsoring a contest to select art for a new manatee decal. The competition for the 2011-2012 decal artwork is open only to high school students (grades 9-12) attending public, private or home schools in Florida.
FWC approves amendments to the manatee protection rule for Sarasota County 6/10
Manatee Management Plan (2.2Mb)
Staff from the Division of Habitat and Species Conservation, Office of General Counsel, Division of Law Enforcement (LE), and Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) participated as members of the Manatee Management Plan Team charged with drafting Florida’s first Manatee Management Plan. Drafts of the plan were revised based on extensive public comment received during two open public comment periods. The Commission approved the plan in December 2007.