CONTACT US:
Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission
Fish and Wildlife
Research Institute
100 Eighth Avenue SE
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701
727-896-8626
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Partial funding for this project was obtained through the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Fund.
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Looking at a map of Florida, you may think that the west coast counties resemble a large jigsaw puzzle made up of unique shapes with contrasting colors. Although each of these individual "pieces" is significant, one of them, Citrus County, plays a key role in solving the puzzle of protecting and conserving the endangered manatee.
Citrus County residents actively protect the endangered manatee and the county's natural resources. Citrus County became the first county in the stale to adopt a countywide, comprehensive manatee protection plan. This plan includes education, habitat protection, boat facility siting policies, and manatee protection speed zones. Seven of the county's rivers are Outstanding Florida Waters and provide habitat that is essential to the survival of the manatee.
The Crystal and Homosassa Rivers are home to one of the largest winter populations of manatees on the west coast of Florida. Great numbers of these gentle giants seek the county's warm-water springs, rivers, and other waterways for sanctuary during the winter. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) designated seasonal sanctuaries within Crystal River where manatees can rest, feed, mate, and give birth. Additional sanctuaries are under consideration at the time of this publication. Furthermore, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has established manatee protection boating speed zones to reduce the number of manatees that are injured or killed by boat propellers and hull impacts. Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Pam's main spring serves as a manatee staging area where ill or injured manatees are taken for rehabilitation.
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This Web site was last updated on June 6, 2012.
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If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions about this Web site, please e-mail us at boating_guides@MyFWC.com.
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