Florida manatees face chronic welfare harm from boat propeller strikes, with the majority of adult manatees bearing permanent propeller scars.
Manatee welfare from boat strikes represents ongoing, measurable harm to a slow-recovering population where virtually every adult carries evidence of human-caused injury. Propeller strikes that do not kill immediately cause wounds that become infected, impair swimming, and reduce the energy available for foraging and reproduction. Manatees that survive multiple strikes may carry cumulative trauma from several events. Speed restrictions in manatee habitat reduce both strike frequency and injury severity — the key challenge is driver compliance with existing regulations.