Manatee numbers up, but injuries persist
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June 22, 2001
Web posted at: 4:42 PM EDT (2042 GMT)
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From John Zarrella
CNN Miami
MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- Veterinarian Maya Dougherty, with the Miami Seaquarium, has tended to well over one hundred injured manatees during the past 10 years. Dougherty was recently kept busy by a manatee with fishing line deeply embedded in its flipper.
The loss of habitat, low reproduction rate and high death rate due to encounters with humans -- entanglement, poaching, boat accidents -- have threatened the manatee for years. These slow, docile, endangered creatures are often harmed because they float near the surface of the water and cannot move away quickly enough to avoid getting hurt.
The aquarium's steady business has not dried-up, which Dougherty says is an indication the manatee population is still very much endangered. However, not everyone agrees.
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A recent aerial survey put the manatee population at nearly 3,300, 600 more than the highest previous survey. Some boating and fishing organizations say that's proof the manatee is making a comeback and further protections aren't necessary.
"We need to be sensitive that there are places where manatees congregate," Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said recently. "But, you can do that with speed zones and proper signage."
Nonetheless, with speed zones and clearly marked signs in place, Florida's Brevard County, near the Kennedy Space Center, has the highest mortality rates for the manatee.
"This is probably one of the best marked speed zones in the state,"
said Florida Marine Patrol officer Dennis Harrah.
Harrah said even with the signs, some people do not pay attention.
Controversy about the level of protection given to these endangered marine mammals continues.
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A sign warns passing boaters
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The Save the Manatee Club, along with nearly 20 environmental and animal protection groups, filed lawsuits last year which were settled in January against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
As a result of the lawsuit settlement with environmental and animal protection groups, the federal government is preparing to designate 16 manatee refugees and sanctuaries. And as part of another lawsuit, the state is beginning what will likely be contentious public hearings to determine new safe havens and speed zones.
| WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
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poaching
| taking game or fish by illegal methods
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endangered
| threatened (with harm, extinction, etc.); brought into peril or harm's way
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congregate
| get together in a group
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RELATED STORIES:
Florida cracks down on speed boaters in manatee country
June 5, 2000
Florida manatee numbers up, survey finds
March 17, 1999
Manatees get sanctuary in Florida
October 26, 1998
RELATED SITES:
Miami Seaquarium
Save the Manatee
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