Manatees in Florida face high mortality and injury from watercraft propeller strikes, with slow recovery from devastating injuries that leave most surviving manatees bearing permanent propeller scars.
Manatees struck by propellers suffer deep lacerations, broken ribs, internal injuries, and flipper amputations. Survival is common but recovery from severe injuries takes months in rehabilitation facilities. Manatees bear their wounds and propeller-scarred skin throughout the remainder of their 60-plus year lifespans. Beyond physical injury, speed zone enforcement failures mean manatees face ongoing harassment and collision risk in their coastal habitat. The welfare case for strict speed zone enforcement is overwhelming given that most manatee strikes are preventable at trivial cost to boaters.