Survey 1Manatee Abundance Survey In fall/winter 2026, FWC will conduct one manatee abundance… and 1 more item

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) awarded contract C7E282 for aerial survey services related to manatee population monitoring and research activities. The contract, valued at $34,000, commenced upon issuance and extends through June 30, 2027. The primary service involves conducting a manatee abundance survey along Florida's west coast from Franklin to Monroe County during fall/winter 2026 (November or December, weather permitting). The survey requires approximately 100 flight hours across a minimum of four days, utilizing multiple aircraft (2 to 5) to survey precise one-mile by one-mile rectangular plots at 750 feet altitude and 80-90 knots airspeed. Each plot will be flown three consecutive times. Aircraft rates range from $186.72 to $422.09 per Hobbs hour for Cessna 172 and 182 models, depending on single-day versus consecutive-day utilization, with a not-to-exceed amount of $26,000 for this survey component.

The contract also encompasses miscellaneous aerial survey services with a not-to-exceed value of $8,000. These supplemental services include aerial observer training flights, emergency response flights during unforeseen events such as red tide or cold water events, animal tracking flights to support capture or rescue operations, and research feasibility flights. Miscellaneous services may be requested on short notice (less than 24 hours) or scheduled in advance and utilize instructor time billed at $92.43 per hour for single-day engagements or $700 per day for consecutive-day operations. All flight operations are based at Albert Whitted Airport, and pilots must possess demonstrated experience conducting manatee aerial surveys.