The West Indian manatee, often called a sea cow, is a large, slow-moving aquatic mammal known for its gentle nature and curious demeanor. Weighing up to 1,200 pounds and reaching 10 feet in length, these creatures appeal to people who want a closer look. However, the urge to physically interact with these animals, such as by hugging or touching them, is strictly prohibited by law. Manatees are protected wildlife, and human contact is highly regulated to ensure their survival in the wild.
The Legal Status of Manatee Interaction
The definitive answer to whether a person can touch a manatee is no, as both federal and state laws prohibit any form of harassment, harm, or pursuit of the species. Manatees are protected under two federal statutes: the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) of 1972 and the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973. The MMPA makes it illegal to harass, injure, or molest any marine mammal, including manatees. The ESA further protects them by listing the West Indian manatee as a threatened species, mandating conservation efforts.
Florida, where the majority of the U.S. manatee population resides, provides additional protection through the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978. This state law prohibits annoying, molesting, or disturbing manatees, reinforcing federal mandates. Violating these laws can result in severe penalties. Federal convictions are punishable by fines up to $100,000 and up to one year in prison. State violations can lead to fines up to $500 and 60 days of imprisonment.
Defining Manatee Harassment
Harassment is legally defined as any intentional or negligent act that has the potential to injure a manatee or disrupt its normal behavioral patterns, such as feeding, resting, or breeding. This definition extends beyond simple physical contact like hugging or touching, encompassing a broad range of human actions in the water. For instance, chasing a manatee while swimming or in a vessel is considered harassment because it alters the animal’s movement and causes stress.
Other actions that qualify as illegal harassment include feeding manatees or giving them water from a hose. This conditions them to approach humans and docks, increasing their risk of boat strikes. Disrupting a manatee mating herd or separating a calf from its mother are also prohibited. Even well-intentioned acts, such as blocking a manatee’s path or disturbing a resting animal, are violations because they interfere with the animal’s ability to survive.
Why Manatees Are Federally Protected
Legal protections exist because manatees face multiple threats that have rendered their population vulnerable. Manatees have a low reproductive rate, typically giving birth to only one calf every two to five years, making population recovery slow. They cannot tolerate water temperatures below 68 degrees Fahrenheit for long periods, forcing them to congregate in warm-water refuges during winter months.
The primary cause of manatee deaths is collisions with watercraft; 96% of adult Florida manatees bear scars from boat strikes. Their slow movement and tendency to frequent shallow waters, where they feed on submerged aquatic vegetation, make them susceptible to propeller injuries. Habitat loss and degradation pose further dangers, specifically the die-off of seagrass beds caused by poor water quality from runoff and pollution. This loss of their main food source leads to starvation, which contributed to an Unusual Mortality Event.
Ethical and Safe Viewing Practices
Observing manatees without causing harm or breaking the law centers on passive observation, meaning viewing them from a distance without altering their behavior. For those on the water in kayaks or canoes, maintaining a distance of at least two boat lengths is a good guideline. One should never paddle directly over a manatee. Boaters must adhere to designated manatee zones, often marked by slow-speed or idle-speed signs. They should scan the water for signs of the animals, such as a swirl on the surface known as a manatee “footprint.”
If a manatee approaches a swimmer, snorkeler, or boater, the human should immediately and slowly back away to avoid contact. Manatees must be given the space they need to move freely. Viewers must avoid isolating an individual or separating a cow and her calf. The safest ways to watch manatees are often from designated viewing platforms or observation decks along the shore.