Manatees have been sighted throughout the Beaufort area over the past few months and that’s always a cause for excitement. From Beaufort to Hilton Head, manatee sightings are on the rise with several reports of sightings this summer.
They’ve been seen in our local waterways. They’ve been seen along our local docks.
Sightings can be difficult in the Lowcountry due to the murky waters, making seeing one all the more exciting. However, it’s this difficulty which creates a greater hazard for manatees and boaters alike. SCDNR is reminding residents and visitors in the Beaufort area to be particularly alert while boating and to report sightings of these gentle giants online.
Also, because of the murky nature of the local waters, it’s nearly impossible to know the South Carolina seasonal populations with any certainty.
Manatees, or sea cows, are large marine mammals that reach around 10 feet in length and weigh up to a ton. They’re warm-weather visitors to South Carolina, typically arriving in May and leaving by November, when water temperatures drop below 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of the difficulty of counting them in murky waters, South Carolina’s manatee population is currently unknown – but it’s a small fraction of the United States’ estimated 7,000 animals, most of which remain in Florida.
Protecting manatees
Due to federal and state protections, it’s illegal to hunt, play with or harass manatees, which includes touching, providing water to or attempting to feed them.
The manatee is protected under federal law by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, which makes it illegal to harass, hunt, capture or kill any marine mammal. Conviction at the federal level is punishable by fine of up to $50,000 and/or one year in prison.
For 44 years, the Florida manatee was protected as “endangered” under the federal Endangered Species Act. In March of 2017, as a result of increasing numbers and improving habitat, USFWS reclassified their status as “threatened.”
Manatees are still protected under federal and South Carolina law and face a number of threats on their continued path to recovery. The greatest dangers to the species include boat strikes, entanglement in fishing gear and harmful algal blooms known as red tides.
Biologists with the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute are tagging rescued animals in an effort to study their migration habits outside the state of Florida. A number of manatees, some familiar to South Carolina’s waters, can be seen on any given day here in the Beaufort area. Some are tagged manatees that wear a “belt” around the base of their tails and trail a floating satellite transmitter that collects and sends information about the animal’s location.
Ways you can help manatees
There are a number of ways members of the public can help South Carolina’s manatees. SCDNR staff encourage anyone to report sightings and provide photographs (if possible) of live manatees online.
Photographs of scars on manatees’ backs and tails are particularly useful, because they can often be used to identify previously known individuals. However, manatees should never be approached by boat to obtain pictures.
Collisions between boaters and manatees are more likely to occur in shallow waters, particularly around docks and at the edge of marshes where manatees feed.
Staying alert, following safe boating practices and maintaining lower speeds in these areas can reduce the risk of a collision. Boaters should also watch for manatee backs, tails, snouts and “footprints” – a series of round swirls on the surface caused by a swimming manatee’s tail.
Report sightings
Injured or dead manatees should be reported immediately to the SCDNR wildlife hotline at 1-800-922-5431. If a boat accidentally collides with a manatee, SCDNR biologists ask that the boater stand by and immediately contact SCDNR or the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16. Doing so provides biologists the best chance to help the animal and gather valuable scientific data.
In addition to reporting sightings, coastal residents and visitors can help manatees by staying alert while on the water and avoiding harmful interactions with the animals.
“Feeding and watering manatees encourages the animals to spend time at docks and marinas, making them more susceptible to boat strikes,” said USFWS biologist Melanie Olds. “In addition to being one of the main causes of mortality for manatees, it is also illegal.”
Tips for being manatee friendly in South Carolina
- Use caution when cranking your motor and navigating in shallow water, especially along the edge of a marsh. Manatees cannot dive away from boats in these areas.
- Always heed “slow speed,” “no wake” and manatee warning signs, particularly around docks.
- Wear polarized sunglasses to reduce glare, making it easier to spot manatees below the surface.
- Watch for large swirls in the water or “footprints” that may be caused by manatees diving away from the boat.
- Dock owners should never feed manatees or give them fresh water. This could teach the animals to approach docks, putting them at greater risk of a boat strike, and it is illegal.
- Never pursue, harass or play with manatees. It is bad for the manatees and is illegal.
