Can you get in the water with manatees?

To get in the water with manatees can offer a thrilling, memorable, and transformative experience. In Crystal River, FL, you can submerge yourself in the water and revel in the companionship of these affectionate and friendly creatures. It presents an excellent chance for quality bonding with family, friends, or colleagues. However, the question remains: Does entering the water and swimming with these slow-moving sea cows actually benefit the animals?

Lawsuit Threat

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) has threatened to take this question to court for determination. The group has written a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in which they threaten to sue the service for allowing people to access manatee habitats and swim with the endangered species. The Fish and Wildlife Service must respond to the letter by May.

PEER’s counsel, Laura Dumais, asserts that swimming with manatee programs significantly disrupt the animals’ behavior. This disruption encompasses feeding, sheltering, and breeding patterns. Consequently, manatees might begin engaging in risky behaviors, such as venturing into the cold gulf waters to avoid noisy swimmers in warm springs.

Dumais stated, “People love the manatees a lot, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has allowed this affection to transform into a profitable tourism industry that could harm the animals in the long run.” She added, “While some people may not realize how swimming with the manatees can affect the animals’ long-term behavior – as they don’t witness manatees suffering firsthand and may assume the manatees are unbothered – certain manatees actually stay away from crowded springs to avoid human interference.”

Manatee Success Story

Nonetheless, the management of Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge asserts that manatees don’t appear to be affected. In fact, their numbers have experienced significant growth despite the increased human activities within Crystal River’s water channels.

According to Andrew Gude, the refuge’s manager, “The manatee represents a remarkable success story. The population is increasing substantially, even with the substantial rise in manatee tours. For a mere $40, you can access the water and engage in a once-in-a-lifetime experience by swimming with the manatees.”

Florida manatees have reached an unprecedented count of 6,000, exceeding the previous record by around 1,000 animals. The numbers have actually risen to the point where some individuals are advocating for action. They’re urging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to consider downgrading the manatee’s classification under the Endangered Species Act from endangered (a designation introduced in 1973) to threatened. The review process for this potential downgrade is still in the draft phase.

Increased Manatee Tours

As manatee numbers rise, an increasing number of people are touring Crystal River to observe and swim with them. This is especially true during this time of year. This is when the cold-sensitive animals leave water channels with temperatures below 68 degrees and migrate to warm springs. Every year, thousands of tourists flock to the areas where the manatees congregate. Additionally, these visitors engage in various water activities, including rafting, kayaking, scuba diving, boating, and freestyle swimming. For instance, the Crystal River refuge received 327,000 tourists last year, ranking as the fifth most visited destination in the United States, with manatees as the main attraction.

Enhanced Protection Measures

As the influx of people to Florida increases for an enjoyable experience with the charming manatees, a concern arises. The narrow swimming channels that the manatees use to access the springs become blocked, altering the behavior of certain manatees. Consequently, these manatees choose to avoid the springs to evade disruption. This is the issue PEER aims to address.

PEER expresses concern, emphasizing that heightened human activity in the refuge could lead to significant consequences. Such a situation might cause more manatees to remain in the open gulf waters. Unfortunately, this could result in some manatees succumbing to the cold waters while trying to evade dense human traffic in Crystal River springs.

Laura Dumais stated, “It is the manatee behavior that we do not see that is problematic. We are worried about the manatees that do not enter the springs when there are crowds of swimmers because they may behave in ways that endanger their lives.”

While the refuge hasn’t entirely banned human contact with animals, as proposed by PEER, measures have been taken to protect them. For instance, the sanctuary is completely closed to humans during extreme cold periods when manatees need it the most. Additionally, the restricted area for humans has been expanded, ensuring more manatees avoid human contact. Furthermore, the strictest actions are taken against any violation harming the manatees, serving as a deterrent for potential harm.

As we await the response from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to PEER or potential court actions, swimming with manatees remains possible. Captain Mike’s Swimming with the Manatees assists tourists in planning and embarking on memorable tours. Our experienced captains and guides ensure interactions with manatees are safe and do not disrupt their habitats. If you’re considering witnessing these gentle giants, plan and embark on your tour with us at “Captain Mike’s Swimming with the Manatees” for more information.

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