The Pros and Cons of Swim with Manatee Tours

Marine Mammal Education and Respect or Wildlife Harassment and Abuse

Mar 2, 2009

Depending on how tours are conducted, Florida's manatees may suffer from encounters with humans, or both people and marine animals may benefit from a positive interaction

Unscrupulous swim with manatee tour operators have been documented chasing Florida's manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris), trapping them, and encouraging people to do the same. Ironically this is not needed. When left to their own devices, manatees will often initiate contact, soliciting touching and exhibiting a curiosity about humans.

The Manatee Rules of Engagement

There are only two areas where it is legal to swim with manatees in Florida, the Homosassa and Crystal Rivers. Within these river systems the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the US Fish and Wildlife Service have instituted some guidelines for interactions with the manatees.

Manatee Harassment is a Problem

Too many people in the water at one time, especially in areas such as Three Sisters Springs where the manatees are known to congregate, may result in intentional and unintentional harassment. Inexperienced swimmers flailing about for the first time in swimfins may bump the manatees or end up in between a mother and calf.

Worse are those who have little respect for wildlife and spend their time attempting to ride or grab and hold the manatees. Tour operators who fail to stop these people are placing the Florida swim with manatee business in jeopardy as this provides the enforcement agencies and conservation organizations with good reason to deny access to manatee areas.

When there are few manatees around, as happens in summer months, swim with manatee tour operators may resort to following or even trapping a manatee in an effort to ensure that tourists have an encounter. Video footage from Save the Manatee shows some of the above situations and their effect on the manatees.

Swim With Manatee Tours Can Educate and Instill Respect

The manatee has no natural predators. Because of this, the species has evolved to be calm and curious. These gentle marine mammals may play with boat anchors or camera gear.

Manatees will often approach swimmers floating on the surface. They may merely come in look the person in the face and move on, or may solicit a scratch by rolling over and rubbing against a hand. When left to initiate contact the manatee may stay with a swimmer or small group for a considerable amount of time.

Solutions to the Swim With Manatees Problem

The biggest issue at present is a lack of enforcement of the manatee rules of engagement. Funding for enforcement, which is presently limited, could come from the operators. A slight increase in fees could result in more personnel being made available to monitor popular swim with manatee sites.

Reducing the number of permits issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, as well as the numbers of persons per boat are two options that are also being considered. The only drawback would be the potential for restricting access to those with most money, as encounters with manatees can be a great tool for encouraging interest in protecting endangered wildlife.

Increasing the no entry sanctuary areas, which allow the manatees to rest or feed undisturbed would also help.

It would be a shame to have to stop all manatee encounters simply because of the behavior of some participants. The animals clearly enjoy interaction with humans so finding ways to protect them while allowing limited, manatee initiated contact should be the goal.

The copyright of the article The Pros and Cons of Swim with Manatee Tours in Wildlife Conservation is owned by Dawn M. Smith. Permission to republish The Pros and Cons of Swim with Manatee Tours in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.