Homossasa Springs, visit and help

[Chris and Pooh]

Hello,
My DW and I have adopted a number of manatees over the years to try and help the species survive extinction, they also need your help.
If you are interested use the following link for more info
http://www.savethemanatee.org/default.html

I am not sure if many out of staters are aware of the potentially critical situation that is happening to the threatened population of Manatees in Florida, but they need help. Please read the following, sorry its long

Please leave a thread to bump this post I feel it is important

Please Don't Downlist Manatees​

The Issue:​

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWCC) Biological Review Panel has issued a report recommending that manatees be downlisted from endangered to threatened status on the state level.

This latest move is a triumph of politics over science. Manatees are poised to be downlisted regardless of how they are faring in the wild because of a calculated effort by special interest groups opposed to boat speed zones and restrictions on development.

And the FWCC has done its part by adopting state listing/delisting criteria so stringent that manatees would have to undergo or be at risk of undergoing an 80% decline in population before they would be listed as endangered in Florida.

What You Can Do:
Use the following link:
http://www.savethemanatee.org/actionalert.cfm?id=12

or read and action the following.


In June, the Commissioners will vote to finalize the manatee’s listing status, but we need to act now. We need to flood the office of Florida Governor Jeb Bush with calls and letters. Please send the following letter to the governor telling him that you oppose downlisting manatees in Florida and call his office at 850-488-4441 to express your concern.

Subject: Please Don't Downlist Manatees

Dear Governor Bush:

I oppose downlisting manatees from their current endangered status in Florida, and I am asking you to do the same.

The new rule language the state has adopted to classify Florida’s imperiled species is deeply flawed and has been criticized by numerous eminent scientists.

Moreover, the state is playing “the name game,” adopting rule categories based on the World Conservation Union’s (IUCN) standards for listing species, but refusing to use the corresponding IUCN term for each category. For example, the FWCC uses the criteria in the IUCN’s “endangered,” category but labels it as “threatened.”

Last year was the second highest manatee mortality year on record. Just in the last five years, 1,682 manatees have died from all causes in Florida waters. That is almost an 18% increase over the previous five year period. Further, in the last five years, 398 manatees were killed by boats. That’s a 17% increase over the previous five year period.

Current scientific data do not support the notion that there is an increase in the manatee population, and threats to manatees and their habitat are increasing. In fact, the FWCC’s own scientific panel has determined that the statewide manatee population could likely decline 50% in the future, and the Southwest manatee population could decline as much as 80%.

The message you are sending to people like me who care about manatees is it is okay that more manatees are dying in Florida waters. That’s unacceptable to me, and it should be unacceptable to you.

 

[dgaston]

Bumping

 

[mousebit]

Chris and Pooh,
Thank you for the information? Now, I have a question for you if you don't mind. What are your thoughts on tourists swimming with the manatees? I have been researching for over a year now since DGD10 would like to do this, but it seems there are two strong, opposing views: 1) An educated public exposed to the animals will join the cause and help in protecting them OR
2) It's wrong for the public to swim with them and can jeopardize their safety if they learn to trust people, etc.
Being from the midwest I'd just like to know. Do the local tour guides take precautions for the manatees' safety and put them first?
In any case, it's nice that you are spreading the word & reaching those of us here in the midwest where we may not be so aware of this situation.

 

[Chris and Pooh]

First of all thank you for your post,
I live even further than you living in the UK so I can only speak from personal opinion and not experience .
My views over the years have changed , I initially was not against swimming with them, they are very gentle creatures and do not seem to show any real fear towards man and felt that interaction could help with their survival, but I feel now that we should allow them to live in their environment with the minimum of tampering. I have found this link that may help with your decision.
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/03/19/Tampabay/Manatee_petting__Just.shtml

 

[mousebit]

First of all thank you for your post,
I live even further than you living in the UK so I can only speak from personal opinion and not experience .
My views over the years have changed , I initially was not against swimming with them, they are very gentle creatures and do not seem to show any real fear towards man and felt that interaction could help with their survival, but I feel now that we should allow them to live in their environment with the minimum of tampering. I have found this link that may help with your decision.
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/03/19/Tampabay/Manatee_petting__Just.shtml

Thanks for the link. I agree with you that minimal interaction is probably best for their survival. As in this article, there are always those few who test the limits, no matter who or what they hurt. The problem is finding a tour operator who truly respects and appreciates the animal--above & beyond making a profit--and enforces the rules.
Anyway, I expressed my humble opinions to the gov. of FL (tho' I'm not sure it matters since I am not a voting resident of the state ).
And I adopted a manatee for DGD10 for Easter. I will give her the adoption papers along with the info you have provided and let her decide for herself.
Hope you keep this thread going. Others will read, even if they don't respond.