Boat strikes are the leading human-caused mortality factor for Florida manatees, requiring active prevention strategies.
Boat strikes on manatees cause acute trauma — propeller lacerations, blunt force injuries, and crushing from boat hulls — that kills or severely injures individuals. Manatees that survive strikes often carry permanent propeller scars and may have internal injuries that affect their long-term health. Warm-water aggregations during winter months create predictable high-risk situations when thousands of manatees concentrate in small areas where boats also congregate. Speed zone enforcement and boat operator education are proven effective and constitute the core welfare intervention available for this specific threat.