Florida manatees are slow-moving marine mammals whose welfare is severely affected by watercraft collisions, which cause painful injuries, chronic scarring, and death in high-traffic areas.
Manatees struck by boat propellers suffer severe lacerating wounds and blunt force trauma that are extremely painful and often require months of rehabilitation. Animals with propeller injuries that survive face permanent scarring, impaired movement, and in some cases loss of flippers. The clustering of manatees in warm water refuges during cold snaps creates dangerous concentration of animals near marinas and boat channels. Slow-speed zone enforcement, exclusion zones around warm water refuges, and operator education are the most effective welfare interventions available.