Public Awareness Activities

Public awareness waterway sign

Each year, SMC sends out press releases on manatee issues to local, state and national media. Jimmy Buffett also records public service announcements that are distributed to radio and television stations throughout the United States. SMC staff handle many requests for manatee information, and the Club maintains a toll-free telephone number for this purpose. In addition, SMC maintains a web site on the Internet, and SMC staff answer e-mail questions about manatees from the public.

SMC also produces public awareness waterway signs that alert boaters to the presence of manatees. The signs are distributed free to Florida shoreline property owners through Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission district offices. Additionally, SMC produces waterproof decals for boats that have tips on how to reduce manatee injury and death. In conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Florida Audubon Society, SMC has produced brochures highlighting the problems associated with feeding manatees.  All three of the above projects have been funded in part by the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund.

Public awareness brochures

In addition, SMC has created a brochure with manatee protection tips for divers, swimmers and boaters with support from the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI)'s Project Aware Foundation and the USFWS. SMC and the Army Corps of Engineers produced a brochure with tips for boaters to help reduce manatee mortalities at Florida's canal lock structures. SMC also produces outdoor signs discussing the problems of feeding, touching and giving manatees water that have been distributed at manatee viewing areas throughout Florida.

SMC also initiated programs in Broward County and the Florida Keys to recycle monofilament fishing line and to educate the public about the dangers of discarded line to manatees and other wildlife.

To direct questions about manatees to SMC staff members or to request any of the educational materials listed above, send an e-mail to education@savethemanatee.org

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