SMC Staff Biologist Suzanne Tarr (left) presents the radar guns to FWCC Colonel Julie Jones (right). The radar guns will help local and state law enforcement officers enforce new manatee protection speed zones in the Tampa Bay area

With an increased number of boats plying Florida's waterways, there also comes an increased responsibility to ensure that our waterways are safe for both humans and our natural resources, including the endangered manatee. So when WCI Communities recently applied to the Southwest Florida Water Management District to modify their permit and increase a limited number of vessels' sizes at its Waterlefe Golf & River Club in Manatee County, Save the Manatee Club requested that they make an effort to minimize negative impacts to manatees.

In response to our request, WCI purchased three radar guns, one for Manatee County Sheriffs Department and two for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Division of Law Enforcement's Tampa District Office. These radar guns, presented to the FWCC and Manatee County at the September FWCC Commissioners' meeting, will help local and state law enforcement officers enforce new manatee protection speed zones in the Tampa Bay area. Increasing compliance on our waterways helps keep both humans and manatees safe.

"Manatee protection is the responsibility of every Florida boater. We hope that WCI's donation will help prevent irresponsible boating from harming these gentle creatures," said Karen Childress, environmental stewardship manager for WCI.

Save the Manatee Club continues to comment on federal and state permit applications that may negatively impact manatees and manatee habitat. Often, we make recommendations like this one to minimize impacts to the resource and to increase boater compliance by ensuring that law enforcement has the funding and equipment to effectively enforce protective laws. SMC also contributes directly, by purchasing research and rescue equipment and lobbying the legislature each year to ensure the FWCC has appropriate research, rescue, and law enforcement budgets and personnel.