Your Boating Behavior Can Be a Lifesaver

What’s better than a day out on the water? Our local bays, inlets, sandbars, and Gulf waters offer plenty to explore and enjoy. With the pandemic limiting activities outside the home, it’s no surprise that boating has increased, but unfortunately, so have human-caused accidents to wildlife. When we are on the water, it’s important to remember we are guests in the home of turtles, dolphins, sharks, rays, manatees, birds, and the many other species that live in and rely on the bay. The actions we take on the water can save lives...in more ways than one.

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There are roughly 43,598 registered boats in Sarasota and Manatee counties. If you are a dolphin, a boat will pass within a little over a football field’s distance from you every six minutes. With increased numbers of boats in the water this year, calls to Mote Marine Lab’s Stranding Investigations Program are up by 30%. Mote, the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have reported an increase in human-caused deaths for dolphins, turtles, and manatees. These deaths resulted from animals getting hit by boats, tangled in fishing gear, or eating plastic.

Four Month Old Dolphin Died Due To Entanglement Credit Mote Marine Laboratory
Four-month old dolphin died due to entanglement, Credit: Mote Marine Laboratory

Human-Caused Marine Wildlife Deaths in 2020

Jan-Aug/Sept 2020

Turtles 23

Dolphins 12

Manatees 67

Total in 2019 or Yearly

Turtles 18

Dolphins 10 - 16

Manatees

Become a Hero Twice Over

The good news is each of us can be part of the solution to this problem. You already are a hero when you choose to do distanced activities, like boating, that help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Choosing to practice a few simple behaviors that protect our nonhuman neighbors can also save lives. Following speed limits and staying in the channel helps avoid accidents. We also need to remember to protect where these species LIVE and what they EAT.

Accidents Happen - Who To Call

None of us has laser vision, and sometimes animals can be unpredictable. If you accidentally injure wildlife, you will not get in trouble. The most important thing is to call for help right away. In any situation, if you see an injured or distressed animal, don't try to rescue it. Please call it in. 

  • Birds - Save Our Seabirds 941-388-3010
  • Dolphins & turtles - Mote 941-988-0212
  • Manatees - Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission 888-404-3922