Boat Safety Tips During Manatee Awareness Month
While November is known for praising our Veterans and eating delicious turkey with our families, the month also resembles something else that is equally important. We are talking about Manatees! Did you know that the month of November is also known as Manatee Awareness Month? Here at Boat and Motor Superstores in Palm Harbor, our team wants to make sure you help protect these beautiful creatures that live just beneath the surface. Our boat dealers near Tampa wish to help you practice boat safety.
Save The Manatees!
Manatee watercraft-related injuries and deaths continue to rise. It is the largest known cause of death from human activity and the greatest threat to their long-term survival. The boating public is urged to be on the alert for manatees since vessel operators are the only ones who can prevent strikes to manatees that often lead to serious injury or worse. Many seasonal manatee zones in Florida come into effect in November, and boaters should pay close attention to posted signage indicating slow or idle speeds. Waterway users should also keep their distance from migrating manatees or manatees congregated at warm-water sites during the winter to avoid possible harassment. The boating community can click the following link to download the free Manatee Alert App for iPhones and iPads, which notifies boaters when they are approaching manatee speed zones. This helps facilitate the reporting of injured manatees and harassment.
More Than Just Boat Safety
With winter approaching, manatees are also susceptible to cold stress. A severe, prolonged cold snap in Florida can be deadly to this subtropical species who cannot tolerate prolonged exposure to water temperatures below 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Many manatees also die from red tide outbreaks. The preservation of an ample healthy aquatic habitat is essential to the well-being of the manatee population. The protection of Florida’s 700+ springs is not only vital to manatees, but to countless other wildlife species, and to humans. The health of spring indicates the health of the underground aquifer, which supplies much of Florida with potable water.
Tips for Waterway Safety!
Report injured or dead manatees to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922), #FWC or *FWC on your cell phone or send a text message to Tip@MyFWC.com. You can also use VHF Channel 16 on your marine radio.
Get a boater’s guide for the county or counties you will be visiting so you can become familiar with the location of manatee speed zones before your trip.
Wear polarized sunglasses while boating to eliminate the glare of the sun and see below the water’s surface.
Stay in deep water channels when boating. Avoid boating over seagrass beds and shallow areas where manatees might be feeding. However, be aware that manatees also use deep water channels when traveling.
Look for a snout, back, tail, or flipper breaking the surface of the water. A swirl or flat spot on the water is also created by the motion of the manatee’s tail when it dives or swims.
If you see a manatee while operating a boat or personal watercraft, remain a safe distance away — 50 feet is the suggested minimum. If you want to observe the manatee, cut your motor.
If you like to jet-ski, water-ski, or participate in high-speed watersports, choose areas that manatees do not or cannot frequent, such as land-locked lakes or waters well offshore.
Obey posted speed zone signs and keep away from posted manatee sanctuaries.
Call Us For Boat Dealers Near Tampa
Take advantage of boat safety during manatee awareness month! Count on our boat dealers near Tampa to sell you your dream vessel! Boat and Motor Superstores takes pride in being one of the best boats for sale in Tampa. We understand the boating lifestyle and how important it is to have a reliable and great looking boat to take out on the water. We offer many boating services, and we even have dockside assistance, so there is no need to bring your boat to us. Call or contact our boat trader today for more information on boats for sale in Palm Harbor near Tampa. We have the best advice when it comes to fishing near me.