Manatees are among the most boat-strike-vulnerable marine mammals, and reducing vessel speed in their habitats is one of the most direct welfare interventions available.
Manatees are gentle, slow-moving marine mammals whose welfare is directly harmed by boat traffic in their habitat. Propeller strikes cause severe lacerations and internal injuries — many manatees survive but carry lifelong scars and chronic pain. Speed zone compliance is a welfare intervention that boat operators can choose to honor even where enforcement is minimal. The recovery of manatee populations from the brink demonstrates what is possible when welfare-protecting policies are enforced.