Boaters in Citrus County, FL: "Go slow and look out below" for manatees
Manatee montage courtesy of FWC.
Citrus County, Florida - FWC officers are currently educating boaters and enforcing manatee zones in Citrus County. As water temperatures warm, manatees naturally disperse from their winter habitats, traveling to other areas of the state and beyond.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is asking boaters in Florida waters to help keep manatees safe while out on the water. Manatees have left their winter refuges and are more likely to be in rivers, bays, canals and nearshore waters. Florida boaters are also enjoying the season, so it is crucial to stay alert and avoid manatees while traveling through Florida’s waterways.
From April 1 through Nov. 15, seasonal manatee zones require boaters to slow down in certain areas to prevent manatees from being injured or killed by motorboats or personal watercrafts. Boat strikes are a major threat to Florida manatees. FWC law enforcement officers are on patrol in state waters to remind boaters of the seasonal manatee speed zones and take enforcement actions.
Over the course of several weekends in May 2023, the FWC conducted special law enforcement details focused on manatee zone enforcement and education within Citrus County. FWC officers addressed vessel operators boating over the 25 mph speed limit on coastal rivers in the area.
“We’re fortunate to have a significant number of manatees in our area and manatee zone enforcement is a priority for area squads. Traveling too fast through these zones, which can also be congested with vessel traffic, can cause safety issues, both for manatees and boaters,” said FWC Lt. Aubrey Ransom. “Over the course of three weekends in May, our officers conducted a total of 128 vessel stops where our officers educated and cited vessel operators for violations.”
FWC officers issued 97 warnings, cited 63 operators and removed one impaired vessel operator from the water for boating under the influence during the special detail. The highest recorded speed violation was 54 mph in a 25 mph speed limit zone.