Manatees timeline

By Times Staff Writer
Published January 21, 2006

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1967: First federal law listing certain species as endangered, including manatees.

1972-73: Two new federal laws, the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, make it a crime to kill, harm or harass manatees.

1978: Florida Legislature declares entire state to be a manatee sanctuary, regulating boat speeds in 13 areas and names manatee as the official state marine mammal.

1990: First Save the Manatee license plate sold to raise money for research.

2000: Environmental groups sue both state and federal agencies, accusing them of failing to protect manatees.

2001: State and federal agencies settle, agreeing to new regulations that anger boaters. Sport-fishing group petitions state to declare manatees no longer endangered.

2002: Number of manatees killed by boats sets new record: 95.

2006: State Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issues report saying manatees are not endangered, but just "threatened."