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FWC cautions boaters to watch for migrating
manatees
April 2, 2008
Contact: Bonnie Abellera, 850-922-4330
Manatees are on the move as Florida waters begin to warm
up, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
cautions boaters to be on the lookout for migrating manatees.
Manatees are especially vulnerable in spring and fall when they travel
along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. Kipp Frohlich, leader of the FWC’s
Imperiled Species Management Section, said boaters can help manatees
have a safe migration by staying in marked channels, wearing polarized
sunglasses to improve vision, obeying posted boat speed zones, using
poles, paddles or trolling motors when in close proximity to manatees
and having someone help scan the water when under way.
During warm weather, some waterways will have more
restrictive waterway speed zones. Boaters in Citrus,
Hillsborough, Lee, Pinellas and Volusia counties should be aware of the
speed zone changes in a few manatee habitat locations.
For more information about manatees, visit
MyFWC.com/manatee/.
Warm weather speed zone changes (more restrictive -
Slow Speed)
Citrus County
March 1 to August 31
Portion of the Withlacoochee River and portion of channel in Gulf
leading to Withlacoochee River and Bennets Creek/East Pass area.
April 1 to August 31
Portion of Chassahowitzka River
Hillsborough County
April 1 to November 15
Portion of Old Tampa Bay, north of Courtney Campbell Causeway (SR 60)
Lee County
April 1 to November 15
Portions of Pine Island Sound, which includes Pelican Bay and the
eastern side of Captiva from Redfish Pass to the south end of Buck Key.
From St. James City wrapping around the western end of York Island to
north of Galt Island. All of Hurricane Bay and most of Estero and Big
Hickory Bays except for the marked channels and other speed zone areas.
Pinellas County
April 1 to November 15
Portions of Old Tampa Bay and Safety Harbor
Volusia County
April 1 to August 31
Portions of Tomoka River and Spruce Creek
Winter season speed zones still in effect:
Citrus County
Until April 30
Idle speed or slow speed – portions of Kings Bay. Slow speed – portions
of the Homosassa River between the Salt River and Trade Winds Marina and
southern portion of Halls River. Slow speed – all waters near the
Florida Power Corporation’s effluent canal.
Dade County
Until April 30
No entry – portions of the Biscayne Canal, Little River and Coral Gables
Canal. Slow speed – within portions of Meloy (or East) Channel and
portions of the Intracoastal Waterway in Dumfoundling Bay and Biscayne
Bay between Broad Causeway and Venetian Causeway.
Indian River County
Until April 30
Slow speed – within Sand and Shell islands area, Channel Marker 66 south
to Channel Marker 75; Indian River area from Hobert Lodge Marina to
North Canal, and from Channel Marker 156 south to St. Lucie County line
west of the Intracoastal Waterway.
St. Lucie County
Until April 15
Slow speed – within Garfield Cut/Fish House Cove area.
Until April 30
Slow speed – within Intracoastal Waterway channel between North Beach
Causeway south to Channel Marker 189 and within the Shark Cut Channel in
the Ft. Pierce Inlet area.
Volusia County
Until April 15
Motorboats prohibited – Blue Spring Run. Slow speed – St. Johns River,
south of Lake Beresford to Channel Marker 67.
Complete copies of individual county waterway rules are
available at: http://www.flrules.org/
or
MyFWC.com/manatee/data/mapref.htm or by contacting FWC at
850-922-4330.
Zone Definitions
Idle speed (No wake) – Lowest speed needed to maintain
steering and make headway (speed used when docking a boat).
Slow speed (No excessive wake) – Fully off plane and
completely settled in the water, not plowing.
This enables boats to move through an area with little
or no impact to natural resources, shoreline erosion or other boaters.
Motorboats prohibited zone – Entry is prohibited for any
vessel being propelled or powered by machinery.
No entry – No vessels or other human-related activities
allowed.
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