Boating

Manatee watch

	[Times photo(1998): Bill Serne]
	Manatees are at the northern end of their range around the Tampa Bay area, and they seek warm water in the winter. This often puts them in big groups, in which the slow mammals are vulnerable to boat traffic.

More than 200 manatees make their home in Tampa Bay, but most bear scars from collisions with boats. One-third of manatee deaths are caused by impact with a hull or propellor. Many deaths can be prevented by adopting manatee-safe boating practices:

* Wear polarized sunglasses to reduce glare on the water .

* Stay in deep-water channels. Avoid running your motor over seagrass beds. Go slow in waters less than 6 feet deep.

* Look for a manatee's snout, back, tail or flipper in the water. A swirl or flat spot signals a manatee may be swimming below.

* Watch for posted speed zone and sanctuary signs.

* Don't discard fishing line, hooks or trash into the water.

* Look, but don't touch. Resist the urge to feed manatees, dolphins or other wild animals.

* If you see an injured or dead manatee, call (888) 404-FWCC, or hail the nearest law enforcement officer on Ch. 16.

Locally, Tampa BayWatch's operates a Manatee Watch program. To help, call (727) 896-5320.

Source: Tampa BayWatch, Save the Manatee Club, Florida Audubon Society and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.