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Enforcement Activities

LE’s manatee protection efforts are based on the premise that education and enforcement are inseparable.

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In FY 2006-2007, the Legislature appropriated $191,342 from the Trust Fund for FWC Law Enforcement (LE).  Of this, $146,197 was spent and the remainder returned because of budgetary short falls in the Trust Fund.  The funds covered partial salaries and benefits of ten full-time employee positions. The duties of these officers included enhanced enforcement of existing manatee protection speed zones.
LE’s manatee protection efforts are based on the premise that education and enforcement are inseparable.  The strong educational component is designed to enhance community awareness of manatee issues.  The goal is to gain an acceptable level of compliance with manatee protection speed zones, which is expected to result in a reduction in watercraft-related manatee mortalities. 

Enforcement efforts begin with educational/informational vessel stops and verbal warnings as each new protection zone is posted.  The enforcement contact escalates to the issuance of written warnings and Uniform Boating Citations (UBCs) after a specific zone has been posted for a reasonable amount of time or for repeat offenders.  Officer discretion is the guideline for the type of enforcement action taken in each contact.

Enforcement efforts have focused on areas of high watercraft-related manatee mortalities, areas of high vessel traffic in manatee protection zones, newly established protection zones, and during the times of the year when high manatee activity is expected (primarily winter months).

LE continues to provide enhanced enforcement in counties such as:  Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Dade, Duval, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Palm Beach, Pinellas, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sarasota, and Volusia, all of which are of critical interest regarding manatee protection. 

Funding

In order to provide greater manatee protection, LE will spend approximately $4,000,000 per year on manatee initiatives which include enforcement and signage.  All of this funding is derived from State General Revenue or the Marine Resources Conservation Trust Fund (Vessel Fuel Tax).  LE is not dependent on the Save the Manatee Trust Fund to continue its mission of protecting manatees but is, as any other government program, dependent on the legislative budget process to continue this dedicated funding.  LE has also received funding assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in the amount of $384,182 and has received $200,000 from the Florida Inland Navigation District for manatee speed zone signage.

To view highlights from the 2006–2007 fiscal year, download
Enforcement Activities 2006–2007 Highlights (PDF File—762 KB)

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