Boaters urged to avoid manatees

BY ANNA FERGUSON

The Brunswick News

The warmth of coastal Georgia draws in more than tourists in spring and summer. Manatees also flock to the Golden Isles every season to soak up the welcoming weather and warm water.

From April to November, herds of the marine mammal swim from Florida to Georgia, looking for heated waterways. Lurking beneath the murky water, these creatures make a home in the Golden Isles, but often go unnoticed by boaters.

"Manatees are there, for sure, but you may not even know it because the water here isn't clear," said Kate Sparks, a wildlife technician with the Coastal Georgia Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. "Manatees come up so little from the water, that it makes them hard to detect. People just don't know they are there."

That is, unless a boat strikes the animal.

Boat strikes with manatees are a common occurrence in the region, especially in shallow water. The collisions are so common, that manatees, like dolphins, are tracked and recognized by researchers by the scar patterns from ship run-ins left on their skin, Sparks said.

"It is sad that we know these animals by how they have been hurt," she said.

About a fourth of manatee mortalities in Georgia in the past three decades were caused by boat and ship collisions. Last summer alone, four manatees were killed along the coast as a result of such strikes, Sparks said.

A large, slow moving creature often referred to as a sea cow, manatees are not quick movers and are not quick breeders. On average, an adult female gives birth to one calf every two to five years, and twins are rare.

Only 3,000 of these sea cows live in U.S. waters, a number small enough to place the mammal on the federal endangered species list. In recent years, good news has spread through the marine community, as researchers have seen a rise in the manatee population.

While an increase in population is certainly a positive, it also means there are more animals in the water, and boaters should take extra precautions, especially this time of year, Sparks said.

"It is definitely great that the numbers are going up," Sparks said. "But awareness about the manatee needs to increase along with those growing populations."

As manatees are camouflaged from view in the hazy coastal waters, knowing where the sea cows spend their days is important to avoid run-ins.

In general, manatees live near docks and banks of waterways, where they feed. Ships should stick to the middle of channels, rivers and estuaries to steer clear of them, Sparks said.

Boaters should also watch for manatee backs, tails, snouts and "footprints," a series of round swirls on the water's surface caused by a swimming manatee's tail.

Areas of bubbling water signal that a sea cow is playing below. If boaters see water that appears to be boiling or swirling, don't go through it, Sparks said.

It's now manatee season along the Georgia coast. To help protect the endangered marine mammal and avoid boat collisions, the Coastal Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources recommends the following steps:

* Look around for manatees before starting a boat's motor.

* Use caution when navigating in shallow water and along the edge of a marsh. Manatees cannot dive away from boats in these areas.

* Heed "slow speed," "no wake" and manatee warning signs, especially around docks.

* Wear polarized sunglasses to reduce glare, making it easier to spot manatees below the surface.

* Watch for large swirls in the water, called "footprints," that may be caused by manatees diving away from a boat.

* Dock owners should never feed manatees or give them fresh water. This could teach the animals to approach docks, putting them at greater risk of being hit by a boat.

* Never pursue, harass or play with a manatee. It is bad for the manatees and is illegal.

* If you see or photograph a healthy, injured or dead manatee, contact DNR at (800) 2-SAVE-ME or (912) 269-7587. Note the date, time, location and number of manatees seen, as well as the global coordinates, if possible.