Habitat Protection

While highly urbanized, the importance of the south Florida’s manatee habitat cannot be overstated. These waters are the historical wintering grounds for the Florida Manatee and were used extensively by manatees until the introduction of fossil fuel power plants in the 1940’s and 1950’s. Fossil fuel power plants discharge warm water which is accessible to manatees and provides them with thermal refuge. This allows manatees to overwinter in areas that would otherwise be to cold for them.

Biologists are concerned about the manatee’s dependence upon man-made warm water sources and the disruption of their natural migratory patterns. Power plants may experience closures due to hurricanes or other unforeseen disasters, leaving manatees without warm water refuge and vulnerable to cold stress. Manatees that winter over in south Florida rarely show signs of cold stress while death and injury are reported in other areas throughout the state. The long-term protection of Florida’s east coast manatees may depend largely upon those who retain the ability to migrate and the integrity of the southeast manatee habitat.

Frequent visits to manatee aggregation sites provide the opportunity to monitor habitat concerns, manatee/human activity and to educate residents, marina workers, and boaters about manatees. This is essential in areas where people live in close proximity to manatees. Issues of feeding, entanglement, harassment, poaching, proper fishing and boating etiquette are dealt with on a regular basis.