Manatee Abuse and Harassment Caught on Tape
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aardvark200304
Guest
While I agree with most of what Emesge27 says, I still think the no touch is the simplest, least bureacratic method of dealing with the problem. If you watch the videos, most of the other harassment starts with that reaching out to touch. Lessen that and you've made a dent. We've tried the touch only if the manatee approaches you first and that hasn't worked. The LE guys either can't or won't make that call. In all fairness, that's a hard call to make. The next step short of stopping the swimming is making it easier for the LE guys by eliminating gray areas. With a no touch, the officer can still use discretion on whether or not he should issue a ticket, but it's a lot more black and white if he chooses to do so. Here's a link to a graduate study that talks about the problems of the gray area. (Sorice Report) Here's another link to a different study. (King & Heinen Report)
Where I disagree is in the notion that simply because there are greater threats to manatees elsewhere that we should ignore the issues that are in our face everyday. I personally am involved in many of those other issues as well. That includes downlisting, warm water habitat loss, speed zones, MPPs, etc. That's kind of like saying we shouldn't worry about global warming when children are starving in China.
Where I disagree is in the notion that simply because there are greater threats to manatees elsewhere that we should ignore the issues that are in our face everyday. I personally am involved in many of those other issues as well. That includes downlisting, warm water habitat loss, speed zones, MPPs, etc. That's kind of like saying we shouldn't worry about global warming when children are starving in China.
*ScubaDave*
Registered
Great video. It's disturbing, to say the least. I have been on Crystal River a couple of times...but luckily I didn't see anything like that go on. I will, however, be paying much closer attention the next time I go up there.
Thanks again, Mark.
Thanks again, Mark.
Rileybri
Contributor
I just don't know how to put what I am feeling into words after reading this thread. I am so deeply saddened by what I have seen in the videos posted and the first hand accounts of the Manatee harassment. I guess it is further proof that we are our own worst enemies and really bad neighbors. I could (anyone with half a brain really) go on and on in a tirade about this but I feel I would be trading (Scrabble word) to a group of people equally as concerned as I am about this issue. With that said I will add the following comments;
to the OP-Bravo bravo bravo my good sir. that was an amazing movie you have put together. Thank you for the immense amount of work and emotion you obviously put into your work. I would encourage you to post more as often as you can and keep this issue current.
Pro Divers- Shame on you!:no I for one will never do any business with you and will make it know to any one who will listen that they should stay away away from you. I would like to hear what you have to say for your self now that the evidence is on the table!
Although I do not live in FL I will call every # provided and then some to make this issue more than a local one.
SB admin- I think this thread need to be linked to a more visible location on scuba board. More people need access to this thread!
thanks for reading and happy(er) dives!
Brian
to the OP-Bravo bravo bravo my good sir. that was an amazing movie you have put together. Thank you for the immense amount of work and emotion you obviously put into your work. I would encourage you to post more as often as you can and keep this issue current.
Pro Divers- Shame on you!:no I for one will never do any business with you and will make it know to any one who will listen that they should stay away away from you. I would like to hear what you have to say for your self now that the evidence is on the table!
Although I do not live in FL I will call every # provided and then some to make this issue more than a local one.
SB admin- I think this thread need to be linked to a more visible location on scuba board. More people need access to this thread!
thanks for reading and happy(er) dives!
Brian
Rileybri
Contributor
Marksm I also wanted to encourage you to submit you move to the Teluride Film Festival
this is a Telluride Film Festival
link! good luck.
BTD
this is a Telluride Film Festival
link! good luck.
BTD
DocSea
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Hi Mark, and thanks for the great documentary. I'd like to use it in the field course I'm teaching this summer in Belize. I think aardvark200304 has a point, reaching out to touch often leads to harrassment. For example, when a manatee turns away from a touch, your first instinct is to reach just a little further. Cheers, Caryn
Opinion Statement: I am in the process of updating our Webpages at sirenian.org prior to a major renovation of our website, which will move both our "visit" and "swim with" links to a more prominent position on the index page listed as "Manatee Encounters." I am considering promoting companies that demonstrate thier conformance with the FL FWCC "don't touch" guidelines.
In reviewing our existing links, I have visited many websites of reputable companies and found at least one image and/or video of a snorkeler touching (petting/scratching) a manatee. After watching "Manatee Manners" online at Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge Complex, I believe that these companies condone and/or promote touching, petting, scratching of non-resting manatees due, at least in part, to inconsistency between the instructions in this video and the Florida FWC Guidelines, which say "Look, but don't touch manatees" (Guidelines for Protecting Manatees - FWC Imperiled Species Management).
The "Manatee Manners" video appears inconsistent with the Joint Task Force News Release (News Release - Wildlife authorities move to halt manatee harassment), which states in the opening paragraph, "It's OK to swim with manatees in most areas, but swimmers must keep their distance or risk a citation. Intentionally touching a manatee or doing anything that disrupts the animal's natural behavior is illegal."
The term "intentional touching" should certainly include petting and scratching.
In "Manatee Manners", snorkelers are seen touching manatees during the clip that says "do not poke, prod, or stab a manatee with your hands, feet, or other objects" (Time stamp 05:20). USFWS guidelines state that harassment is defined as "poking, probing (sic), stabbing..." and "...touching or disturbing a resting manatee" (http://www.fws.gov/crystalriver/web_manateeguidelines.jpg). This leaves the guest with the assumption that it is acceptable for snorkelers to touch, pet, and scratch manatees during an encounter, as long as the manatee is not resting.
There are strong opinions among manatee tour operators and dive professionals as to whether touching manatees should be allowed. One group has taken the FL FWCC position of "Look, but don't touch" (CEOs for Wild Manatees (CEOs for Wild Manatees) and have pledged to educate their guests to conform with the FL FWCC Guidelines for Manatee Encounters (additional information can be found here: manateeprotection.com).
However, based on their websites, most tour operators appear to prefer the USFWS Guidelines and the Instructions in "Manatee Manners", which apparently only prohibit touching, scratching, petting of resting manatees.
Although the state and federal agencies appear to have come to a consensus in the Joint Task Force News Release, this is not reflected in the US FWS video nor online at the Crystal River Refuge Website.
I would respectfully encourage everyone who reads this thread to contact the USFWS and the FL FWCC and ask them to bring all their published guidelines into agreement with each other, whether in print, on the web, or in videos.
Opinion Statement: I am in the process of updating our Webpages at sirenian.org prior to a major renovation of our website, which will move both our "visit" and "swim with" links to a more prominent position on the index page listed as "Manatee Encounters." I am considering promoting companies that demonstrate thier conformance with the FL FWCC "don't touch" guidelines.
In reviewing our existing links, I have visited many websites of reputable companies and found at least one image and/or video of a snorkeler touching (petting/scratching) a manatee. After watching "Manatee Manners" online at Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge Complex, I believe that these companies condone and/or promote touching, petting, scratching of non-resting manatees due, at least in part, to inconsistency between the instructions in this video and the Florida FWC Guidelines, which say "Look, but don't touch manatees" (Guidelines for Protecting Manatees - FWC Imperiled Species Management).
The "Manatee Manners" video appears inconsistent with the Joint Task Force News Release (News Release - Wildlife authorities move to halt manatee harassment), which states in the opening paragraph, "It's OK to swim with manatees in most areas, but swimmers must keep their distance or risk a citation. Intentionally touching a manatee or doing anything that disrupts the animal's natural behavior is illegal."
The term "intentional touching" should certainly include petting and scratching.
In "Manatee Manners", snorkelers are seen touching manatees during the clip that says "do not poke, prod, or stab a manatee with your hands, feet, or other objects" (Time stamp 05:20). USFWS guidelines state that harassment is defined as "poking, probing (sic), stabbing..." and "...touching or disturbing a resting manatee" (http://www.fws.gov/crystalriver/web_manateeguidelines.jpg). This leaves the guest with the assumption that it is acceptable for snorkelers to touch, pet, and scratch manatees during an encounter, as long as the manatee is not resting.
There are strong opinions among manatee tour operators and dive professionals as to whether touching manatees should be allowed. One group has taken the FL FWCC position of "Look, but don't touch" (CEOs for Wild Manatees (CEOs for Wild Manatees) and have pledged to educate their guests to conform with the FL FWCC Guidelines for Manatee Encounters (additional information can be found here: manateeprotection.com).
However, based on their websites, most tour operators appear to prefer the USFWS Guidelines and the Instructions in "Manatee Manners", which apparently only prohibit touching, scratching, petting of resting manatees.
Although the state and federal agencies appear to have come to a consensus in the Joint Task Force News Release, this is not reflected in the US FWS video nor online at the Crystal River Refuge Website.
I would respectfully encourage everyone who reads this thread to contact the USFWS and the FL FWCC and ask them to bring all their published guidelines into agreement with each other, whether in print, on the web, or in videos.
I haven't read all this thread but I have just watched the video. Quite shocking. Makes me glad that the environmentalists here in Belize had the foresight to ban physical interaction with manatees.
Docsea - I'm interested to know more about your course in Belize.
Docsea - I'm interested to know more about your course in Belize.
DocSea
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Hi Peterbj7, Here is an introduction to the field course. This year, we have 12 participants, 10 paying students, one Earthwatch Fellow from Ghana, and one Hugh Parkey Foundation Fellow from Belize. The course starts this Saturday, May 31st and runs for 2 weeks. BTW, I had an awesome whale shark diver, yesterday at Gladden Spit....truly awesome, video processing in progress!
Ecology, Behavior & Conservation of Manatees & Dolphins
A Unique Field Course in the Drowned Cayes, Belize, May 31 - June 13, 2008
Want to be a marine mammal scientist? Here's your chance to join our team for 2 intense weeks of research on Antillean manatees and bottlenose dolphins in Belize! You will be totally immersed in the study of manatees and dolphins through lectures, literature review, and field research.
This unique field course combines an overview of the ecology, behavior, and conservation of sirenians and cetaceans with hands-on manatee & dolphin research in the Drowned Cayes, Belize, as part of a long-term research project in place since 1998.
In addition to lectures, discussions, and reading assignments, you'll spend 3-4 hours on the water each day as we explore a labyrinth of mangrove islands and seagrass beds searching for elusive manatees and charismatic dolphins. You'll collect behavioral and environmental data and learn about photo-id techniques, help reduce and analyze data, and interpret results.
To date, research on this project has resulted in 6 presentations at scientific conferences, 3 peer-reviewed publications, 1 MS Thesis, and 1 PhD Dissertation (visit link to Instructor's CV, below, for more information).
For more information:
Ecology and Behavior of Manatees and Dolphins in Belize
http://sirenian.org/CourseFlyer2008.pdf
http://sirenian.org/RegistrationForm2008.pdf
Credit: The course is hosted by the Hugh Parkey Foundation for Marine Awareness & Education and Spanish Bay Conservation & Research Center as a non-credit course. The lecture and field lab hours are equivalent of a 4-credit hour academic course; instructor will work with your academic advisor if credit is desired.
Location: Hugh Parkey's Belize Adventure Lodge http://www.belizeadventurelodge.com; extra- curricular activities include snorkeling on the reef, and exploring an ancient Maya City.
Your Share of Costs: $2495 includes housing, meals, field trips, ground & water transfers fees – DOES NOT include airfare, insurance, or credit hours; students are required to have in place or purchase travel insurance equivalent to DAN Insurance, which costs $99/year.
Instructor: Caryn Self-Sullivan, Ph.D. (May 2008)
http://sirenian.org/Self-SullivanCV2008.pdf
Tandoorii
Registered
Thanks everyone for this thread. I was just about to book with AMPRO! Will probably go with Native; I like their 8am rather than 6:15am departure.
Happy bubbles,
Happy bubbles,
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