The Worst Year For Manatees

Efforts To Protect Manatees In The Counties Where They Are Most At Risk Of Being Killed By Boats Have Been Shamefully Slipshod.

December 29, 1991|By Violet

As people bickered over boating speed limits this year and dawdled instead of posting new signs, more manatees than ever were killed by boats in Florida. Fifty-two of the endangered mammals died because of boating-related cuts or collisions - two more than the previous high set in 1989.

Perhaps the most troubling aspect of the 1991 record on boating-related manatee deaths is that it should have been the best year ever for protecting manatees.

The 13 counties with the highest number of manatees had been charged with devising plans to reduce boating speeds in the areas most often frequented by the sea cows. But though it has been more than two years since the governor and the Cabinet ordered those counties to take such sensible measures, only eight of the 13 counties have plans in place.

As inexcusable as that is, local officials in five counties are still quibbling over where and what speeds should be set. In the meantime, boats continue to zoom down the waterways, imperiling one of Florida's most precious resources.

Clearly, the counties that have yet to reach an agreement with state officials on a final plan need to quickly institute interim strategies. Boating speed plans can always be altered later if they aren't considered appropriate.

As for the counties whose plans have been adopted, most still have plenty of work to do before the new speed limits can offer manatees any added protection.

One problem is that only four of the eight counties with plans - Brevard, Volusia, Palm Beach and Martin - have posted all their signs. That's inexcusable.

And even where signs are posted, the new speed limits are often not strictly enforced. Law-enforcement agencies apparently are issuing far more warnings than actual tickets because they feel that so many people don't understand the new limits.

The answer to that problem is not lax enforcement, it's better education. And the best way to spread the word is to start passing out more of those $175 tickets for speeding in a manatee zone. You can be sure that will get boaters' attention.

And if there is a genuine belief that most boaters don't know that ''slow speed'' means 5 to 7 mph, then that information ought to be on the speed limit signs and posted other places boaters would see it, like at marinas and on fuel pumps.

This time next year, let's hope there's good reason to praise public officials for making 1992 the best year ever for manatee protection.

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