Measures to protect manatees during the 2023 Miami International Boat Show

The Division of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) within the Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources, in coordination with County, State, and federal law enforcement agencies, will have an active presence at the Miami International Boat Show, occurring February 15 - 19, 2023, to ensure that the event organizers follow permitting conditions and to monitor any impacts to manatees. 

In order to reduce the potential overlap between manatees and vessels over the duration of the boat show event, the public is encouraged to avoid on-the-water activities in the vicinity of the boat show during the event dates, even in non-motorized vessels. This will enable DERM and law enforcement personnel to focus on the boat show’s compliance with permitting conditions and manatee protection measures. The public is further encouraged not to fly drones in the area of the boat show, as they may interfere with planned aerial manatee observation activities.

For individuals or organizations interested in participating in manatee protection measures during the boat show, the best way to get involved is to report any manatee sightings to DERM by emailing [email protected], or on Twitter by tagging @MiamiDadeRER. Publicly submitted manatee sightings within the vicinity of the boat show will be forwarded to onsite DERM biologists, who will investigate the sighting and, if confirmed, will alert event organizers of the presence of manatees and require that any in-water operations, including sea trials, within 50 feet of the manatee(s), cease.

Since 1989, DERM has been collecting manatee sighting data to determine manatee distribution and habitat use patterns across the county. If the public sees a manatee anywhere in Miami-Dade County, they are encouraged to report the sighting to DERM for inclusion in the long-term monitoring of manatee populations throughout the County. When submitting manatee sighting information, make sure to include the number of manatees observed and the date and location of the sighting.

There are many ways the public can assist in protecting manatees and the habitat on which they rely on. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has provided the following guidance on how the public can be proactive in manatee protection measures in their daily lives:

• Look, but don't touch manatees. Also, don't feed manatees or give them water. If manatees become accustomed to being around people, they can alter their behavior in the wild, perhaps causing them to lose their natural fear of boats and humans, which may make them more susceptible to harm.
• Obey all posted waterway signs and use FWC manatee and boating safety zones maps to plan your trips.
• Have someone on your boat look out for manatees. Give a manatee plenty of room; even if you only see one animal, it is likely traveling with other manatees (possibly even a calf) that you may not see.
• Wear polarized sunglasses, which reduce glare and help you see manatees under the water.
• Avoid traveling in seagrass or other shallow areas where manatees may be feeding or resting.
• Keep unwanted plastics, monofilament line, rope and other fishing gear out of the water by discarding them properly in trash or recycle bins. These items frequently injure, entangle and kill manatees.
• To report an injured, dead, harassed, or orphaned manatee, call the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922). Cell phone users may call *FWC or #FWC.

In addition to emailing DERM, the public may report any environmental concern by calling the environmental complaint desk at 305-372-6955, submitting an online form, or through 311 Direct online or the app.