Manatees Protection Plans in Northeast Florida and a note about Dolphins too

A. Quinton White, Jr. , Ph.D. Executive Director

Gerry Pinto, Ph.D. Associate Research Scientist

Picture by NatGeoKids Duval County Manatee Research Project

Funded: City Of Jacksonville Developed: Jacksonville Waterways Commission Research: Jacksonville University

12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 2 Classification of Sirenians

„ Order: Sirenia (manatees & dugongs) „ Family: Trichechidae (manatees)

„ Genus species/subspecies: ‹ Trichechus manatus - West Indian ‹ Trichechus manatus latirostris - Florida ‹ Trichechus manatus manatus - Antillean

‹ Trichechus inunguis – Amazonian ‹ Trichechus senegalensis – West African

12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 3 Classification of Sirenians

„ Order: Sirenia (manatees & dugongs)

© GBRA_gov.au „ Family: Dugongidae (dugongs & sea cow)

„ Genus species: „ Dugong dugon – (dugong) „ Hydrodamalis gigas (extinct Steller’s sea cow) „ 1741-1768 Artic Waters of the Bering Strait

(30ft and 4400 Lbs) ©SMC.org

12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 4 Federal and State laws protect manatees.

„ US Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. „ US Endangered Species Act of 1973 Federal law violation: $100, 000 and/or 1 Yr.

„ Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act in 1978, allowing the state to establish and enforce boating restrictions in important manatee habitats by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC). State law violation: $500 and/or up to 60 d.

12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 5 State approved MPP’s Brevard 2003 Broward 2007 Citrus 1991 Collier 1995 Miami-Dade 1995 Duval 1999 Lee 2004 Indian River 2000 Martin MPP 2002 Martin BFSP 2002 Palm Beach 2007 Sarasota 2004 St. Lucie 2002 Volusia 2005 Clay 2006 Research Project Components

„ Aerial surveys

„ Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV)

„ Water quality monitoring

„ Inventory of boat facilities

„ Vessel traffic studies

„ Power plant surveys

„ Manatee protection

„ Manatee education and awareness

12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 7 Synoptic counts

floridamarine.com

NOTE: No survey in 2008 ? Flight paths North Florida Flight Training Cessna 172 Skyhawk

12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 17 man_icw_0306 3man_dock_0306 Man_T_sjr_0306 Man_grp_0306 G Manatee traveling inside docks. 2Man?@pilings I Manatee traveling outside docks. J Manatee traveling outside docks 12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 26 12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 27 Cavorting Manatees Walter Coker_FOLIO 12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 29 Walter Coker_FOLIO

12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 30 12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 31 Summer

Adults 520 AdultsCalves 247 40 2007 CalvesTotal 56020 Total 267

Adults 247 Calves 20 Total 267 Fall

Adults 63 Calves 4 Total 67 2005

Adults 63 Calves 4 Total 67 Adults 14 Calves 6 Total 20 Spring

Adults 376 Calves 19 2006 Total 395 LSJR W-Temp

12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 36 ICW W-Temp

12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 37 Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV)

Freshwater

„ Tape grass - Vallisenaria americana

„ Hyacinth - Eichornia sp.

„ Algae - Hydrilla sp. Marine

„ Turtle grass – Thalassia sp.

„ Manatee grass – Syringodium sp.

„ Shoal grass – Haladule sp.

12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 38 Hyacinth @ 6 mile creek Vallisenaria americana

12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 40 Water Quality Monitoring

„ Weekly

„ Jacksonville University boat dock

„ Water temperature

„ Salinity

12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 41 SCT Meter St. Johns River Report http://www.sjrreport.com/

12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 43 SJRWMD GT026 NAS JAX GT030 NAS JAX s

12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 44 Marina Surveys Q Inventory of Boat Facilities Ortega River New Marina Vessel Traffic Studies UNF, JU, ATM R Observer watching for traffic. Warm Water Sources

„ JEA Southside and Kennedy Power Plants

„ JEA Waste Water Treatment Outfalls

„ Other areas (Ortega Basin)

„ Monitored daily between Nov - Feb

„ Blue Springs

„ Scar patterns recorded

12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 48 Manatee rescue SSJEA Stumpy M&Calf Club Cont. May96 Scar pattern Scar pattern Manatee Protection

„ Waterways activities/events

„ Rescues & carcass recovery

„ Other observations

„ Special areas

12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 53 Ron Nelson JEA

12/1/2011 Jacksonville UniversityRon Nelson JEA 54 Manatee rescued at JU dock broken back later died at Sea World 12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 56 12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 57 Moving dredge equipment ICW N. Acoustics study MANATEE MORTALITY 31%

12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 61 44%

12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 62 Zone Map Original Zones

12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 64 Current Zones Dolphins

at ie s ell d i N lan ine cot Mar ’s Mas JU

12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 66 12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 67 12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 68 12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 69 12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 70 To report manatee or dolphin sightings and deaths, injuries, orphaned calves, tag sightings or harassment please contact:

JU Phone: (904)-256-7575

FWC Phone: 1-888-404-3922 Cell: *FWC Radio: VHF Ch.16

12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 71 Marine Science Research Institute

12/1/2011 Jacksonville University 72 END Source: FWCC, DEP, BPSM, FMRI. Source: FWCC, DEP, BPSM, FMRI. Source: FWCC, DEP, BPSM, FMRI.