Here is a "primer" on manatees and boating:
Manatees mainly stay to the sides of boating channels in grassy-bottom areas (they like to eat the sea grass.) Manatees are not aggressive and will not hurt you.
Sea cows can be hard to spot. I recommend wearing polarized sunglasses. Polarized sunglasses eliminate glare from the water�s surface and better allow you to see what�s underneath.
To spot manatees, look for bubbles (manatee bubbles can be large and look like bubbles from a scuba diver.) Look for eddies in still water. You will occasionally see their noses come up for air. Manatee backs and tails sometimes appear at the surface.
Typically manatees will arch their backs out of the water for a couple of seconds, then disappear under the surface for extended periods of time. Manatees are not like dolphins, which can generally been seen at the surface. Sometimes I will spot a manatee and say so to people in my boat. They start looking for the manatee, but never see it... then they think I'm nuts. Regardless, I'm extra careful after seeing an arched back.
Manatees do not seem to hear boat motors and propeller noise very well. I've had sea cows surface 15 feet directly in front of my boat (idle speed) completely unaware of my presence. I was easily able to avoid them, but the incident was unnerving.
You should be prepared mentally to make evasive maneuvers to avoid hitting manatees. ALWAYS keep a close eye out for bubbles, eddies, noses and tails. Be on the lookout around ramps, docks and in channel, regardless of whether the area is marked as a manatee zone. You may also want to plan in advance what you would do if you hit one (imagine doing so with a boat full of friends!)
A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officer hit and killed a manatee. It happened as he was leaving a slow-speed zone. Click here to read about the incident.
The FWC says it "...does not penalize boaters who are operating their vessels lawfully when they accidentally hit a manatee, even if the manatee dies.... Boaters who hit a manatee, or anyone who sees a manatee in distress should notify the FWC at 1-888-404-FWCC or call #FWC or *FWC on a cellular phone..."
Manatee activists currently have efforts underway to close waterways north of Peanut Island to boaters. They also want additional boating speed restrictions in areas near the St. Lucie Inlet.
You need to be especially aware of manatees in the winter months. Dozens of manatees will seek out warm water coming from the Riviera Beach Power Plant (Peanut Island/Palm Beach Inlet area.) Most manatees go there during prolonged cold snaps that reduce the water temperature. Manatees need to live in water that's at least 68 degrees. Manatees assemble at the power plant when local water temperatures hit the lower 70s.
The power plant has set up its own public �manatee viewing� area. It�s quite a sight. If you want to see the area, the manatees congregate in a short concrete channel. The channel connects with the Intracoastal Waterway, a few hundred feet south of the red-and-white smokestacks. The area is well marked with buoys and warning signs. See photo.
Sometimes the power company closes the Manatee Viewing Area for security reasons. It's unfortunate, because the security benefits aren't obvious. It's hard to understand why closing this very remote part of the property helps in any way. Sea cow fans wanting to see the manatees must use - of all things - a boat. The whole situation is counter-intuitive... but I guess it's FPL's power plant and they can do what they want with it. Click here to see Florida Power and Light's official site for more information.
Please know that the subject of manatees can stir up passion. Never assume the person you are talking with has the same feelings you do. Most boaters are responsible and reasonable on the subject. I have never heard of anyone who wants to hit a sea cow.
However, there are people on either side of the issue that will take you on. There are local groups dedicated to both sides. Here are some examples of the passionate arguments you may encounter:
A passionate viewpoint expressed from another side might go something like this: "Some boaters cloak themselves in a caring fa�ade. In reality they want to run their boats fast, irrespective of the impact it has on the very ecosystem they are trying to enjoy. Wildlife was here first and it should have the priority. Boaters are narcissistic rednecks."
In the end, you owe it to yourself to be a conscientious boater and operate in a safe manner. Doing so will reduce pressure to restrict even more local waterways. It may also save you from sickening predicament of chewing up a large, gentle animal with your propeller.