Save the Manatees?

[theskull]

Here is the message I sent to the Save the Manatee Organization:

Hi,

I am a member of the organization. I joined several years ago after my first experience swimming with the manatees with SCUBA gear in the Crystal River area. I have returned to snorkel with the manatees in the same area, and have recommended to dozens of other divers that they participate in this experience as well. AND, I have always urged these divers to donate to the organization as well, so that the animals’ habitat and lives could be preserved.

Recently I heard a disturbing report, and would like to know if it is true. I was told by one of the area dive operators that SCUBA is discouraged in the areas where manatees are present and that snorkelling is also frowned upon—and that the reason is that the Save the Manatee Organization is putting pressure on local operators to curtail these activities under the threat that the Save the Manatee Organization would like to have these activities banned and is looking for an excuse to get laws passed to do so.

So, was this report incorrect hearsay. . . or is the organization I have been supporting truly against having us conservation-minded lovers of the water being allowed to observe these wonderful creatures peacefully in their natural habitat.

Please respond.

Sincerely,
William Harrison
Saint Louis, MO

[theskull]

Here is their reply:

Hi William,



Thanks so much for your e-mail message. We appreciate your membership and continued support of Save the Manatee Club and our manatee protection efforts. To answer your question, we do discourage people from swimming with the manatees at Crystal River. Instead, we support what is called "passive observation," or observing manatees from a distance.

The reason we don't encourage people to swim at Crystal River is that between 80,000 - 100,000 people visit the wildlife refuge during manatee season each year and, inevitably, many of them want to touch the manatees or interact with them in some way. As you know, manatees are protected under the Endangered Species Act, so touching them, feeding, surrounding, or chasing them can be considered harassment and is therefore illegal. However, the refuge staff is small and is therefore unable to adequately enforce the ESA, so there are many incidents of manatee harassment that go on at Crystal River each year.

Crystal River is a winter refuge that manatees need for their survival. When people try to touch or pursue manatees, they can alter the manatee's
behavior in the wild, perhaps causing them to leave the warm water area, which makes them susceptible to potential harm. Also, people can inadvertently separate a mother and calf by trying to touch manatees. Manatees calves depend on the care of their mothers for up to two years, so a calf who is separated from his or her mother could ultimately die without her.

We believe that observing from a distance is the best way to protect manatees and all wildlife. We have information on SMC-recommended manatee viewing areas on our web site (see links below), as well as manatee protection tips for divers, swimmers, and boaters. In addition, we recently started an eco-tour program where people can kayak and view manatees in the Crystal River area. We had great feedback from the people who signed up for the kayak tours this year and plan to offer it again next winter. You can read more about the program at http://www.savethemanatee.org/news_feature_ecotours_2.htm

Recommended manatee viewing areas: http://www.savethemanatee.org/places.htm
Tips for Boaters, Swimmers, and Divers: http://www.savethemanatee.org/Tips.htm

I hope you understand our position on this issue. We very much appreciate your support for manatee protection.



Sincerely,

Nancy Sadusky
Director of Online Communications



Save the Manatee Club
500 N. Maitland Ave.
Maitland, FL 32751
1-800-432-JOIN (5646)
E-mail: nsadusky@savethemanatee.org
Web: www.savethemanatee.org



Sign up for Paddle Tales, our free e-newsletter: www.savethemanatee.org/enews_signup.htm

[theskull]

And my response:

Nancy,



I do understand your position. I very much do not agree with it. The tour operators through which I was able to swim with the manatees provided an excellent educational introduction along with the strongest admonitions to respect the manatees and not harass them in any way. THIS is what inspired me to join your organization and to be concerned about the ongoing welfare of the manatees.



“We believe that observing from a distance is the best way to protect manatees and all wildlife.” – I believe they might as well be in a zoo, or mankind restricted to a zoo, with such a mindset.

“. . . we recently started an eco-tour program where people can kayak . . .” – Excellent! You’re almost putting people close enough to really see and develop a connection with the manatees. But it’s not enough to forgive your efforts to keep people out of the same element the manatees inhabit.



I remain committed to helping the manatees and will be looking for another method of assisting, as I cannot continue to make donations to an organization with the aims you are espousing.



With regrets,



William Harrison

[theskull]

What are your thoughts?

theskull

[nauifins73]

I appreciate your thread more than you will know. I just hadn't gotten off my back side and joined the group.

I can assure you that the group I was with didn't harass the manatees in any way, shape or form. That is not to say that other divers have the same mind set. I can say with some certainty that the group of 15 to 20 young (late teens) snorkelers did more damage than the group of divers I was with.

So many groups start with a wonderful goal and some how turn it into a radical/unrelenting point of veiw. Everything is wrong except their point of view.

If you find a new group that supports manatees please pass it on. One organization I learned about is www.CMAquarium.org. A Mom and Pop aquarium in Clearwater, FL that is doing wonders with what they have.

Thanks TS for the info
Becky

[M&P+4]

What are your thoughts?

theskull

I have dove Crystal River twice now but in the summer months when the Manatee's weren't there in force.

I admire what they are trying to accomplish but like you disagree with the extent of their efforts. Responsible interaction can be a positive experience for both parties involved - I wish I had a chance to meet up with them when I was there.

[theskull]

I have dove Crystal River twice now but in the summer months when the Manatee's weren't there in force.

I admire what they are trying to accomplish but like you disagree with the extent of their efforts. Responsible interaction can be a positive experience for both parties involved - I wish I had a chance to meet up with them when I was there.

Being there in the winter months does not quite guarantee a manatee encounter, but the odds are very good. It is quite an experience! And not staged like the dolphin encounters done elsewhere. My recommendation would be to go soon while you still can.

There has been an effort to remove the manatees from the endangered species list. I'm conflicted on this one, too. The removal would be due to the fact that they are doing well and the population of manatees is as big as can be supported by the available habitat anyway, but I'm not sure removing the protections they get is a great idea. And now I must also consider that removing them from endangered status would remove the control these tree-hugging zealots are trying to exert over folks who would like to see them.

theskull

[DeepDiverBob]

So do these people not drive cars either? The act of driving a car could change the behavior of animals on the road, too. Those poor deer that are laying on the side of the road, I would say their behavior was altered. I guess this is where PC meets nature. Maybe we should all quit diving too, becuase we alter the behavior of the fish we see, too.

[M&P+4]

So do these people not drive cars either? The act of driving a car could change the behavior of animals on the road, too. Those poor deer that are laying on the side of the road, I would say their behavior was altered. I guess this is where PC meets nature. Maybe we should all quit diving too, becuase we alter the behavior of the fish we see, too.

I agree - humans aren't part of nature and everything that we touch should be considered molesting nature! Maybe we shouldn't eat the animals either - or the plants that they need for food - maybe we should find our own planet to inhabitate. Just kidding -

[crpntr133]

Thanks for positng about your reply email.
With the manatee snorkeling that I did a couple weeks ago we respected the manatees just like any other animal that we see in the water. It seems that most scuba divers tend to respect water critters more than others. Of course there are those butt holes that ruin it for all.
Did we touch the manatee? Yes. But we weren't told not to, we were encouraged to do so.
If I was to look at this from a diving stand point I could see more where the organizations are coming from. Not saying that they are right or not but their stand would make more sense then. If we could follow them to the bottom then they wouldn't have their space. Then the arguement comes in about some would and some wouldn't. The rules are set for those that would and those of us that wouldn't have to pay.

My respect for the manatee grew in major proportions since snorkeling with them. I don't think you can fully respect them or understand them by just looking at them from a boat. Yes they are neat but so much more so from water with them.

Just remember that opinons are like butt holes. We all have one and they all stink.

[Atlaua]

If we could follow them to the bottom then they wouldn't have their space.

Doesn't seem like the bottom is inaccessable in these places wether on SCUBA or not....

[theskull]

. . .Just remember that opinions are like butt holes. We all have one and they all stink.

Mine don't stink. And I have lots of witnesses who have heard me say so!

theskull

[theskull]

Doesn't seem like the bottom is inaccessable in these places wether on SCUBA or not....

True. But you're also within yards of the roped-off preserve areas to which they can retreat any time. And it is very clear that the manatees KNOW where this boundary is and only come out to play with the people when they want to. And they really seem to like to rub up against us and get their tummies petted.

And crpntr also correctly pointed out that you really form a connection with them and appreciate them by being there. To see the lump of their back from a boat is no big deal. Not to mention that the greatest danger to manatees is being hit by the props of boats that run over them.

theskull

[Atlaua]

True. But you're also within yards of the roped-off preserve areas to which they can retreat any time. And it is very clear that the manatees KNOW where this boundary is and only come out to play with the people when they want to. And they really seem to like to rub up against us and get their tummies petted.

So it's not vertical distance so much as horizontal? That makes a little mor sense.



And crpntr also correctly pointed out that you really form a connection with them and appreciate them by being there. To see the lump of their back from a boat is no big deal. Not to mention that the greatest danger to manatees is being hit by the props of boats that run over them.

Then heaven forgive me if I ever dive (or snorkle) with them because they are already 1st or second on my list. They were a clear first just from seeing them in aquariums until I dove with an even more endangered sea mammal, now it's neck and neck.

James

[Atlaua]

Not to change the subject, but on a similar note, anybody seen this yet?

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=1778&e=1&u=/060226/480/wxs10302260437

Reminds me a of a case here a couple of years ago. Guy rescues dog from pound, guy is irresponsible and leaves dog with toddler, dog bites toddler, guy beats dog to death over the course of hours and many beers.

It was a big case here, "Justice for Dusty" was the cry from those trying to get the guy convicted, trial had to be moved because of the local outlash. Guy walks away scott free...

James

P.S. The first link didn't work. Try this:

http://makeashorterlink.com/?J1E552ABC

[crpntr133]

Doesn't seem like the bottom is inaccessable in these places wether on SCUBA or not....

True but we were told not to dive down with them while snorkeling. With everyone that I saw there nobody was going down with them. Maybe I should have said that most would be less likely to go to the bottom with just snorkel gear.

Boy it is so nice to type "butt hole" and not be spanked by a mod for doing so!! :D