Boating & Fishing Insiders

Manatees are on the move to warmer waters. Credit: www.MyFWC.com

Boaters and anglers should keep an eye out for manatees on the move to warmer waters. All it takes is one good cold front to send these marine mammals swimming in search of their winter refuges, such as freshwater springs or canals near power plants.

Event though an adult manatee may look a little blubbery and weigh up to 1,000 pounds, it is still susceptible to cold. Water temperatures of 68 degrees or lower can be harmful, and prolonged exposure may even cause death.

That's why in many areas of the state, seasonal manatee protection zones went into effect on Nov. 15. As a result, state law enforcement officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are asking boaters to be vigilant about manatees on the move and cognizant of slow speed zones.

Because of the seasonal migration, November has been designated Manatee Awareness Month. Boaters should post a lookout to scan the water for telltale signs of a manatee, such as repetitive swirl patterns called a manatee footprint, a mud trail, or a snout or fluke breaking the water’s surface.

Other steps boaters may take to insure a safe manatee migration include:

• Keep to marked channels
• Wear polarized sunglasses to improve vision
• Obey posted boat speed zones and use poles, paddles or trolling motors when traveling close to manatees.