Memorial Day: Please Remember the Manatees!
source: http://savethemanatee.org
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As the first holiday weekend of the summer season approaches, we have this boating safety reminder from Save the Manatee Club:
Memorial Day traditionally signals the start of the summer boating season. Recreational boaters during the holiday weekend are reminded to watch out for manatees traveling, resting, feeding and playing in waterways.
Last year, a record-setting 97 manatees were killed by boat strikes in Florida waters. Save the Manatee Club has issued a new boating decal and a redesigned shoreline property sign that says “Slow Please.”
“We wanted to create something that would serve as a constant reminder for boaters to be on the lookout for manatees and also provide the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s hotline number (1-888-404-3922) for reporting manatees in distress,” said Katie Tripp, the club’s director of science and conservation.
Save the Manatee Club is distributing the signs to Florida shoreline property owners and decals to boaters. Florida boaters can also request a free “Please Slow: Manatees Below” waterproof, bright yellow banner to alert other boaters when manatees are present in the area.
To obtain the free decals, signs and banners, contact Save the Manatee Club at education@savethemanatee.org, at 500 N. Maitland Ave., Maitland, FL 32751, or 1-800-432-5646.
To further safeguard manatees, the club says boaters should follow all posted boat speed regulations, slow down if manatees are in the vicinity, and stay in deep water channels when possible. If you see an injured, dead, tagged or orphaned manatee, or a manatee that is being harassed, call the wildlife commission 1-888-404-FWCC (3922) or #FWC or *FWC on your cellular phone, or use VHF Channel 16 on your marine radio.
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/features_lifestyle_animal/2010/05/memorial-day-...
Memorial Day traditionally signals the start of the summer boating season. Recreational boaters during the holiday weekend are reminded to watch out for manatees traveling, resting, feeding and playing in waterways.
Last year, a record-setting 97 manatees were killed by boat strikes in Florida waters. Save the Manatee Club has issued a new boating decal and a redesigned shoreline property sign that says “Slow Please.”
“We wanted to create something that would serve as a constant reminder for boaters to be on the lookout for manatees and also provide the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s hotline number (1-888-404-3922) for reporting manatees in distress,” said Katie Tripp, the club’s director of science and conservation.
Save the Manatee Club is distributing the signs to Florida shoreline property owners and decals to boaters. Florida boaters can also request a free “Please Slow: Manatees Below” waterproof, bright yellow banner to alert other boaters when manatees are present in the area.
To obtain the free decals, signs and banners, contact Save the Manatee Club at education@savethemanatee.org, at 500 N. Maitland Ave., Maitland, FL 32751, or 1-800-432-5646.
To further safeguard manatees, the club says boaters should follow all posted boat speed regulations, slow down if manatees are in the vicinity, and stay in deep water channels when possible. If you see an injured, dead, tagged or orphaned manatee, or a manatee that is being harassed, call the wildlife commission 1-888-404-FWCC (3922) or #FWC or *FWC on your cellular phone, or use VHF Channel 16 on your marine radio.
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/features_lifestyle_animal/2010/05/memorial-day-...
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Boating guides that feature manatee speed zones are available from the wildlife commission.
Click here http://www.savethemanatee.org/boatertips.htm to see “Manatee Protection Tips for Boaters.”
The club’s efforts coincide with Endangered Species Day on Friday, May 21, and National Boating Safety Week, which runs May 22-28.
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