FWC Manatee Photo-identification Program

What is manatee photo-identification?

Manatee photo-identification is a non-invasive research technique that uses the unique pattern of scars and mutilations on a manatee's trunk and tail fluke to identify an individual animal over time.  In Florida, the scars are primarily a result of encounters with boats; however entanglements in fishing gear, cold stress lesions, and fungal infections also can cause scarring.

What does photo-identification tell us?

The capture histories produced through photo-identification efforts are used to estimate annual adult survival rates and to model population dynamics for state and federal assessments of Florida manatee status and recovery.  Additionally these data provide insights into manatee movements, site fidelity, habitat use, behavior, intra- and inter- specific associations, and reproductive parameters such as calving intervals and length of calf dependency.

Manatee photo-identification partnership

Manatee photo-identification research in the southeastern United States is realized through a partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey's Sirenia Project (USGS), the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and Mote Marine Laboratory (MML).  These federal, state, and private entities work collaboratively to photograph Florida manatees throughout their range, process images, identify manatees, and manage an integrated sightings database, known as the Manatee Individual Photo-Identification System (MIPS).  Additional cooperators also provide photographs and associated data to these three main partners.

Connection to the Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory

All recovered carcasses are compared to animals documented through manatee photo-identification.