United Nations Regional Environment Programme Management Plan for the West Indian Caribbean Manatee Environment Programme (Trichechus manatus) Regional Coordinating Unit Prepared in collaboration with: CEP Technical Report 48 Note: This document was commissioned by UNEP–Caribbean Environment Programme from Drs. Ester Quintana- Rizzo and John Reynolds III, under the Marine Mammal Action Plan for the Wider Caribbean Region developed in keeping with the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) Articles 11 and 21, which call for the establishment, publication, and dissemination of general guidelines and criteria for the management and recovery of endangered and threatened species of regional concern in the form of regional management plans. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP concerning the legal status of any country, territory or city or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations Environment Programme. © 2010 UNEP Caribbean Environment Programme 14-20 Port Royal Street Kingston, Jamaica This document may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form of educational or non-proper services without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. UNEP would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this document as a source. No use of this document may be made for resale or any other commercial purpose whatsoever without prior permission in writing from the United Nations Environment Programme. For bibliography purposes, this document may be cited as: UNEP: Regional Management Plan for the West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) compiled by Ester Quintana-Rizzo and John Reynolds III. CEP Technical Report No. 48. UNEP Caribbean Environment Programme, Kingston, Jamaica. 2010 Caribbean Environment Programme United Nations Environment Programme REGIONAL MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE WEST INDIAN MANATEE (Trichechus manatus) Compiled by: Dr. Ester Quintana-Rizzo Dr. John E. Reynolds III Manatee (Trichechus manatus) © Manatee P r o g r a m m e , Mote Marine Laboratory Prepared in collaboration with: CEP Technical Report 48 2010 ii PREFACE The Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP) is one of several Regional Seas Programmes administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The CEP is based in Kingston, Jamaica, and forms the programmatic framework for the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean (Cartagena Convention) adopted in 1983 by governments of the Wider Caribbean Region. The Cartagena Convention is the only comprehensive environmental umbrella treaty for the region, promoting regional cooperation to protect the economic and environmental sustainability of the region through improved management of coastal and marine resources. To achieve its objectives, the Convention has established three Protocols for environmental management: the Protocol Concerning Cooperation in Combating Oil Spills, the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW), and the Protocol Concerning Land-Based Sources and Activities of Marine Pollution (LBS). The purpose of the SPAW Protocol is to protect rare and fragile ecosystems and habitats, thereby protecting the endangered and threatened species residing therein. This Protocol was adopted in 1990 and, in 1991, the participating governments adopted three Annexes to the SPAW Protocol listing species of flora and fauna of regional concern requiring protection under the Protocol. The SPAW Protocol became international law in 2000. This document was prepared following Articles 11 and 21 of the SPAW Protocol, which call for the development of general guidelines and criteria for the management and recovery of endangered and threatened species of regional concern. This document also updates UNEP-CEP Technical Report Number 35 published in 1995 and entitled “Regional Management Plan for the West Indian manatee, Trichechus manatus,” to promote more effective research and conservation. The marine mammal fauna of the Wider Caribbean Region is diverse and adds significant ecological, aesthetic and economic value to Caribbean countries and territories. Success in managing and conserving marine mammals in this region ultimately will depend largely on the commitment of participating countries to build their internal capacities and to work cooperatively by establishing conservation priorities, standards and strategies for marine mammal conservation and education. Since 1995 governments participating in the SPAW Protocol have considered conservation of the Antillean subspecies of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) as a regional priority. The subspecies is found in waters of nearly 20 countries or territories, but its distribution is patchy, abundance is very low in most countries, and adverse impacts of humans are or may be considerable. This report is based on in-depth consultation with scientists and managers from the various States and Territories of the Wider Caribbean Region; including both Parties and non-Parties of the SPAW Protocol. All comments and recommendations were considered in preparation of the final document, which was submitted for approval and on 8 September 2008, endorsed by the SPAW Parties at their Fifth Conference of the Parties in Antigua. Based on the wide range of opinions considered, this report recommends both traditional measures for manatee conservation (e.g., improved education and awareness; enforcement) and novel ones (e.g., re- iii introduction into historic habitat) that have proven effective for conserving other endangered species and, if based on sound scientific guidance, may prove useful for manatees. Not all scientific experts (including the authors) necessarily agree with every recommendation or its relative priority. This report does not reflect full scientific consensus, as the issues involved are too complex. Rather, it presents a synthesis of issues and approaches that Parties of the SPAW Protocol should consider and, if deemed appropriate, implement. The UNEP-CEP thanks everyone who contributed in any way to the development of this document. In particular, UNEP-CEP thanks the Government of France for providing funding through the SPAW Regional Activity Centre in Guadeloupe, and Drs. Ester Quintana-Rizzo and John Reynolds, of Mote Marine Laboratory (Sarasota, Florida) for their dedication to this effort and technical expertise. We hope that it will facilitate more effective conservation of manatees in the Wider Caribbean. Dr. John Reynolds III Nelson Andrade Colmenares Center Director Coordinator Mote Marine Laboratory UNEP Caribbean Environment Programme iv TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE.................................................................................................................................................iii LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................................. ix LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................... xi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...................................................................................................................... xii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................... xiii 1. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1. Review of Taxonomy and General Biology ................................................................................. 1 1.1.1. Common Names........................................................................................................................ 1 1.1.2. Classification and Taxonomy ................................................................................................... 1 1.1.3. Geographic Range and Distribution.......................................................................................... 2 1.1.4. Biology...................................................................................................................................... 3 1.1.5. Life History............................................................................................................................... 4 1.1.6. Social Structure......................................................................................................................... 5 1.1.7. Mating Patterns ......................................................................................................................... 5 1.1.8. Foraging Behaviour .................................................................................................................. 6 1.1.9. Thermoregulation and Movement............................................................................................. 8 1.1.10. Communication..................................................................................................................... 10 1.2. General Status in the Region ...................................................................................................... 11 1.2.1. Species Population