A network of federal manatee protection areas has been designated and marked throughout the state of florida for the purpose of delineating, regulating, and enforcing site-specific boating and…

The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 4 awarded a $3.9 million cooperative agreement to the Fish & Wildlife Foundation Of Florida Inc. under the Endangered Species Recovery Implementation federal grant program (CFDA 15.657) to support the maintenance and inspection of a network of federal manatee protection area markers throughout Florida from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2027.

Under the award, the Foundation will manage a reporting system for damaged markers; evaluate reports to assess risks and coordinate temporary and permanent repairs with the U.S. Coast Guard. It will also maintain a waterway asset management system, routinely inspect all markers, and repair or replace markers as needed. Documentation of compromised markers and response efforts will support enforcement of manatee protections. The Foundation may also assist the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission with inspecting and maintaining state markers located with federal installations.

A network of federal manatee protection areas has been designated and marked throughout the state of florida for the purpose of delineating, regulating, and enforcing site-specific boating and access restrictions designed to protect state and federally protected florida manatees. The network of state and federal markers requires continual inspection and maintenance to ensure adequate protection for manatees, boater safety, and enforceability. These funds will allow fwff to:1)support a reporting network for damaged markers.2)evaluate reports of damaged markers to assess report accuracy and determine degree of threat posed by damaged markers.3)report damaged markers that constitute navigation hazards to the US coast guard for public notification.4)temporarily mark damaged markers (signs and buoys) to alert boaters of a navigational hazard until the damaged markers can be repaired or replaced.5)immediately repair and/or replace damaged markers that constitute significant hazards to navigation.6)maintain and update a waterway asset management system and routinely assess the condition of all markers in the manatee protection area network to evaluate condition and identify repair and maintenance needs.7)repair and maintain damaged markers that do not present an immediate navigation hazard on an "as needed" basis. In addition to USFWS marker needs, funds provided by USFWS could be used to inspect and maintain FWC markers that are on the same installations as the federal markers.8)document compromised markers through reports and photographs. For enforcement purposes, documentation will include date of damage report, description of response efforts (including date repairs completed), and photographs of damaged markers and repaired markers, etc.9)support efforts to assess the need and efficacy of manatee protection zones and the placement of manatee protection markers.