Kudos to Law Enforcement's Operation Slow Speed
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For Immediate Release: March 29, 2004
On two weekends in March, several law enforcement agencies, including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, the Coast Guard, and police from Riviera Beach, North Palm Beach and the Town of Palm Beach combined forces to patrol the manatee protection speed zone in Palm Beach’s Riviera Beach area. This seasonal speed zone, in effect each year from Nov. 15 to March 31, is critical to protect the hundreds of manatees seeking warm water refuge at the Riviera Beach power plant. Hundreds of contacts with boaters were made, tickets and warnings were issued, and everyone gained a bit of manatee education and safe boating tips.
FWCC Officer Scott Prasse deserves special praise for recognizing the importance of protecting the endangered West Indian manatee by enforcing these zones. Further, he organized both operations and demonstrated the positive results of working cooperatively with other agencies to get the job done. Save the Manatee Club and manatees thank all the officers and agencies who participated in this endeavor. Keep up the good work!
For more information about boating safety courses, state manatee protection zones, manatee protection tips for boaters, and how to report an injured manatee, please visit www.savethemanatee.org/boatertips.htm.
