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Picture a lone manatee swimming peacefully
along the bottom of a shallow waterway with a gleaming propeller
blade looming dangerously close. Underwater photographer, David
Schrichte, captured this powerful scene in a photo that has now
been made into a 11"x17" boater awareness poster by Save the
Manatee Club. It features the conservation message, "Navigate with
Care, Manatees are There," and encourages the boating community to
"Boat Safely."
The club is distributing the posters free
of charge to businesses and organizations who are interested in
displaying them in store-fronts and high-traffic office areas to
help spread the word amongst the many locals and tourists who boat
on Florida's busy waterways.
According to manatee mortality data from
the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, 417
manatees died last year, and the leading known cause of manatee
deaths was from boat strikes, with at least 92 killed.
"We need to do everything possible to
safeguard manatees and secure the manatee's future in the face of
many growing threats," said Patrick Rose, Executive Director of
Save the Manatee Club.
To help protect manatees on a year-round
basis, 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 who is being harassed, call the
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission at
1-888-404-FWCC (3922) or #FWC or *FWC on your cellular phone, or
use VHF Channel 16 on your marine radio.
Business owners and operators who are
interested in obtaining a free "Boat Safely" poster should contact
Save the Manatee Club via e-mail at
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,
by regular mail at 500 N. Maitland Ave., Maitland, FL 32751, or by
calling toll free at 1-800-432-JOIN (5646). Please include your
contact information along with full information on where the poster
will be displayed.
Florida boaters can also request a free,
"Please Slow: Manatees Below" bright yellow waterproof banner by
contacting Save the Manatee Club via e-mail at
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. Include full mailing information
along with the area where you boat in Florida. The banners can be
used to quickly alert other boaters that manatees are present in
the area.
Also, if you are a Florida shoreline
property owner, you can get a free aluminum sign for your dock
which reads, "Please Watch for Manatees: Operate With Care."
More manatee protection tips are available
on the Club's website at
www.savethemanatee.org/boatertips.htm.
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