Signs posted to protect manatees

Despite the fact that there has been an ongoing campaign by the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute, dead manatees are still washing up on our shores: seventeen in 1999 alone. Of that number it is believed three may have died after the manatees were hit by a boat propeller or crushed by the hull of a barge. Following a meeting with the Port Authority it was decided that manatee caution signs will be posted in strategic locations.

Tanya Williams, Public Relations Officer, CZMAI

“Okay in addition to our ongoing public education campaign we realized that maybe people do not even know where manatees are and that’s why we believe the caution signs are very important so that boaters know where they should lookout for manatees in certain areas.

The first set of signs will be posted in the New River from the Orange Walk toll bridge to the New River Lagoon and in the Belize River, then afterwards we will look at the Belize City cayes.”

Boaters are asked to be on the lookout when travelling in areas inhabited by manatees. The general public is asked to report any collisions by calling the toll free number 0-800-MANATEE. Along with the manatee caution signs, the Port Authority will also be posting routing signs as part of it’s regulations for safety of persons on watercraft.