Service Moves Forward with Kings Bay Manatee Refuge Designation
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Manatees rest in the winter in Kings Bay. Crystal River.
(Photo © David R. Schrichte.)
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By Katie Tripp, Ph.D.
Director of Science & Conservation,
Save the Manatee Club
On March 16, 2012, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service published its long-awaited final rule for Kings Bay in the Federal Register. The rule does not completely eliminate high-speed watercraft in Kings Bay, as was originally planned in the proposed rule, but it does improve protections for manatees in Kings Bay both from high-speed watercraft activity and from human harassment.
Save the Manatee Club remains concerned for the safety of both humans and manatees in this critical habitat for manatees and is continuing to look for ways to increase the safety of both under the provisions of this rule. One important component of the rule that has not yet been developed is the creation of a buffer zone at the edges of the remaining high-speed area, to help allow manatees safe passage into and out of Crystal River and Kings Bay (click on the following link to see a pdf of the Kings Bay Refuge map). We have expressed our interest in working closely with the Service as they work to set up this important slow-speed buffer. We have also offered our assistance with efforts to post signs for the new protection rules, which must be in place before the rules can be enforced. Frankly, we won’t understand if these new watercraft protections are not posted on time.
The manatee refuge measures include:
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Maintaining the seven existing manatee sanctuaries where all waterborne activities are prohibited November 15 through March 31;
- Regulating watercraft speeds throughout the manatee refuge at all times;
- Prohibiting anchorage (other than emergency anchorage) of watercraft in the high-speed (25 mph) area from June 1 through August 15;
- 12 specifically prohibited activities throughout the manatee refuge at all times;
- Temporary ‘no-entry’ areas adjacent to existing sanctuaries and specified additional springs during the manatee season (November 15 through March 31);
- Temporary ‘no-entry’ areas prior to or after the manatee season during unusual cold events; and
- Exceptions for adjoining property owners and their designees.
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A kayaker
in Kings Bay holds a "Please Slow: Manatees Below" banner to try
to warn high-speed boaters that manatees are present. The final rule does not completely eliminate high-speed watercraft in Kings Bay, as was originally planned in the proposed rule, but it does improve protections for manatees in Kings Bay. (Photo by
Steve Sapienza.)
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The rule further prohibits the following specific activities in order to prevent manatee take:
- Chasing or pursuing a manatee(s).
- Disturbing or touching a resting or feeding manatee(s).
- Diving from the surface onto a resting or feeding manatee(s).
- Cornering or surrounding or attempting to corner or surround a manatee(s).
- Riding, holding, grabbing, or pinching or attempting to ride, hold, grab, or pinch a manatee(s).
- Poking, prodding, or stabbing or attempting to poke, prod, or stab a manatee(s) with anything, including your hands and feet.
- Standing on or attempting to stand on a manatee(s).
- Separating a mother and calf or attempting to separate a mother and calf.
- Separating a manatee(s) from a group or attempting to separate a manatee(s) from a group.
- Giving a manatee(s) anything to eat or drink or attempting to give a manatee(s) anything to eat or drink.
- Actively initiating contact with a belted and/or tagged manatee(s) and associated gear, including any belts, harnesses, tracking devices, or antennae.
- Interfering with rescue and research activities.
Additionally, the following activities are prohibited within Three Sisters Springs from November 15 through March 31:
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All waterborne activities in Three Sisters Springs from sunset to sunrise.
- Scuba diving.
- Fishing, including but not limited to fishing by hook and line, by cast net, and by spear.
Click here to see the full rule>>
We greatly appreciate the help of our members and supporters in ensuring that manatee protection rules were made permanent for Kings Bay. Even though science and economics were on our side, the Service was being pressured heavily by a small but wealthy number of local individuals, as well as the local government (who flip-flopped from previously supporting additional manatee protections in Kings Bay), and the Service could have implemented a much weaker rule or further delayed protections without having heard from thousands of advocates like you, so thank you again!
While the publication of the Service’s rule is an important first step, we still have much work to do, and we will continue to need your support. Even though the final rule has been published by the Service, there is still an effort afoot, led by U.S. Congressman Nugent (R- Brooksville), to block federal funding for the rule’s implementation and enforcement. During Florida’s recent legislative session, our in-state advocates received alerts regarding two memorial bills (House and Senate) which included provisions opposing the Kings Bay rule. Both of these non-binding memorials passed, but ultimately it is the federal government that will decide the fate of this rule. Making matters even worse, the Crystal River City Council vowed at their March 26, 2012 meeting to continue their fight to overturn even these watered-down protections. If you haven't already done so, please join our E-mail Action Alert Team, so you can receive future action alerts to help ensure that this important rule is implemented and fully funded.
Finally, please consider making a donation today to help us as we prepare to defend manatees from the legal attacks that have been promised to come from those who don’t believe these defenseless manatees deserve the protections that were adopted in Kings Bay. Although these opposition groups profess to care about manatees, they repeatedly argue that it is okay for manatees to continue to be killed rather than stop high-speed watersports in this critical manatee habitat.
Thank you for your caring support and trust.
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| Grabbing or pursuing a manatee are among the specific activities that are prohibited in the final U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule for Kings Bay. (Image courtesy Tracy Colson.) |
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