|
Each year countless dolphins, manatees, and sea turtles are injured or killed by boat strikes. These accidents are devastating, but the good news is they’re also preventable. With a little extra care, every boater can help keep our waters safe for the wildlife that calls them home.
Here’s how you can make a big difference the next time you’re on the water:
👀 Be a Wildlife Watcher
Assign a “spotter” to keep an eye out for manatees, dolphins, or turtles surfacing ahead. One quick sighting could prevent an accident—and save an animal’s life.
🐢 Slow Your Roll
Always follow no-wake and slow-speed zones. These areas exist to protect wildlife in key feeding, resting, and travel zones. Slowing down protects animals and fellow boaters.
📞 Report Injuries or Strandings
If you see an injured or stranded marine animal, call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline (888-404-FWCC / 3922) right away. Quick action gives rescue teams the best chance to save a life.
Every mindful decision on the water helps ensure dolphins keep leaping, manatees keep grazing, and sea turtles keep finding their way to the sea—for generations to come. 💙🐬🐢
|