If you see an injured or dead manatee

If you see a manatee that is sick, injured, dead or tagged, call the FWC's Wildlife Alert number at 1-888-404-3922 (cell phone callers can dial *FWC or #FWC).

Be prepared to answer the following questions:

• What is the exact location of the animal?
• Is the manatee alive or dead?
• How long have you been observing the manatee?
• What is the approximate size of the manatee?
• What is the location of the public boat ramp closest to the manatee?
• Can you provide a contact number where you can be reached for further information?

Marine vessels and protection zones

The leading known cause of manatee deaths in Florida is vessel collisions -- and it's been the leading cause of death in Miami-Dade County over the past decade. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that vessel impacts remain a continuing threat to the status of manatee populations.

To help address this issue, FWC has established rules to restrict the speed and operation of vessels where necessary to protect manatees from harmful collisions with vessels and from harassment. In areas that are especially important to manatees, the rules can prohibit or limit entry into an area as well as restrict what activities can be performed in the area.

The state adopted manatee protection and boating safety rules for Miami-Dade in 1991.

• See maps of Miami-Dade County manatee protection zones (1.3 MB)

Manatees and cold weather

Manatees live in Miami-Dade County year-round, but during the winter, large numbers of manatees move south or to springs and heated discharges from power plants. Manatees suffer from the cold when water temperatures fall below 68 degrees. They may become ill or die if they are unable to find refuge in warmer waters over a prolonged period.

In Miami-Dade, canals and rivers that are influenced by warmer groundwater flows provide refuge for cold-stressed manatees. It is important that manatees be able to reach these shelters and rest in them with little or no disturbance from human activities.

The best way to help manatees in cold weather is to avoid disturbing them, watch for signs of stress or injury and notify the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission of any manatee in distress.

Manatee swimming in a canal.

Miami-Dade County Manatee Protection Plan

In October 1989, the Florida Governor and Cabinet directed 13 key counties to develop manatee protection plans. This directive was eventually required by Florida Statute in 2002.

Manatee protection plans must include guidelines for the siting of new or expanded marine facilities to help reduce the risk of impacts from vessel traffic -- as well as address other human-related causes of manatee death, habitat protection, education and law enforcement.

County, state and federal authorities in 1995 approved Miami-Dade County's Manatee Protection Plan.

Update to the Miami-Dade County Manatee Protection Plan

Miami-Dade County has completed a multi-year effort to update the County’s original 1995 Manatee Protection Plan. This document represents the first revision to Miami-Dade County’s original 1995 Manatee Protection Plan and is the result of the recommendations of the Manatee Protection Plan Review Committee, and coordination between Miami-Dade County, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The purpose of revising the original MPP is to provide guidance targeted at reduction of human-related threats to manatees and manatee habitat based on an evaluation of updated information on manatee use and boat activity in Miami-Dade County.

The draft update to Miami-Dade County’s Manatee Protection Plan is now available here.To request a version of the draft update to the Manatee Protection Plan with tracked changes, please email [email protected].

Public questions, comments and remarks will be accepted until July 5, 2025, by email at: [email protected].

The Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources, Division of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) will be hosting two public presentations to provide an overview of the proposed updates to Miami-Dade County’s Manatee Protection Plan. Both meetings require advance registration. Please join us for a:

• Virtual presentation on Monday, June 2, 2025 at 10 a.m. – Register here
• In-person presentation on Thursday, June 5, 2025, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Overtown Transit Village North (OTV, 701 NW 1st Court, 2nd Floor Training Room, Miami, Florida 33136). Register here
  • Parking: A parking garage is available on-site. Additionally, OTV is conveniently located next to the Overtown Transit Village Metrorail station. Use of the Miami-Dade County Metrorail system is encouraged for easy access.