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FWC Announces Annual Manatee Synoptic Survey Numbers

FWC Press Release

February 6, 2007

Contact:

Wendy Quigley (727) 896-8626 ext. 2058 (727) 224-6720 (cell)

FWC ANNOUNCES ANNUAL MANATEE SYNOPTIC SURVEY NUMBERS

In the annual manatee synoptic survey conducted Jan. 30 - Feb. 1, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reported a preliminary count of 2,812 manatees statewide.

A team of 16 observers (14 by air and two on the ground) from eight organizations counted 1,412 on Florida’s Atlantic Coast and 1,400 on the state’s Gulf Coast.

A synoptic survey is a simultaneous count of manatees over a broad area. The survey results are not used directly to evaluate the status of the manatee population. Although the survey results are not an estimate of population size, this survey provides researchers with a minimum number of manatees in Florida waters at the time of the count. In addition, the surveys provide a snapshot of manatee distribution around the state.

State law requires an annual count, weather permitting, of manatees in Florida waters. The synoptic survey meets this requirement. The best conditions for the synoptic survey occur during the winter. FWC follows a prescription for favorable weather conditions for manatee surveys as weather and manatee behavior affect synoptic survey counts. This year, warm winter conditions and changing weather over the course of the survey influenced the resulting count.

“Deteriorating weather conditions posed a challenge to observers. However, despite the weather, we counted record numbers of manatees in Tampa Bay, Blue Spring and Brevard County,” said Dr. Holly Edwards, the FWC biologist in charge of the annual count.

Researchers at FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute are developing new survey methods that would make future aerial surveys more accurate and less dependent on weather conditions.

For more information about manatees and synoptic surveys, visit http://research.MyFWC.com.

To report a dead or injured manatee, call 1-888-404-FWCC.

Additional Information
Manatee Research
Manatee Synoptic Surveys