CLEARWATER, FL (May 24, 2024) – With Memorial Day Weekend here, and more boaters on the waterways, Clearwater Marine Aquarium offers advice for boaters to have a safe experience for themselves, as well as marine life in the ocean and intracoastal.
“There are several species of marine life in danger of being hurt by boats out on the water,” said Abby Stone, Rescue Programs Manager & Stranding Coordinator at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. “These include various species of sea turtles, manatees and dolphins,” said Stone. “Manatees experience watercraft trauma throughout their lifetime,” she said. “Dolphins are another species who are at risk for boat strikes. They are a little bit faster moving, but we commonly see animals with dorsal fin injuries.”
Manatees are slow creatures and often swim near the surface of the water, so be aware of your surroundings. Boat-strikes can injure or even be fatal for this species. Manatees surface to breathe so look for bubbles and manatee snouts on the water surface.
Boaters can help by making sure to have a spotter, or someone to look out for marine animals surfacing on the water. It is also important to wear polarized sunglasses to help scan the water.
“This time of year is sea turtle nesting season, so we see a lot of the larger turtles coming closer to the coast to make their nests along the shore. We have seen an increase, especially in loggerheads, getting boat strikes, and unfortunately, a lot of them do not make it through those strikes,” said Stone.
And it’s not just the turtles in the water to look out for. Because it is turtle nesting season, female turtles make their ways onto our beaches to lay their eggs. It is crucial for beachgoers to pick up their trash at the end of their visits, to make sure these endangered sea turtles are not impeded by the litter.
CMA also advises beach visitors to be sure and fill in any holes in the sand as well as knock over any sand castles or sculptures, because these will hinder both female turtles and/or their hatchlings that need to crawl out to sea.
If you do see an animal in distress, please do not attempt to handle it or rescue it yourself, as this could cause more stress to the animal. Do not attempt to intervene or to push the animal back into the water, but instead provide information to trained responders who will get to the scene quickly with appropriate equipment.
The best way to help is to call CMA’s rescue hotline at (727) 441-1790 ext. 1, if you are local to St. Pete or Clearwater; or call Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Wildlife Alert Hotline at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922); or call the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline (877) WHALE-HELP or (877) 942-5343 for help.
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Media Contact: Marsha Strickhouser | mstrickhouser@CMAquarium.org | (727) 242-0770
- About Clearwater Marine Aquarium
- Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working marine rescue center dedicated to inspiring the human spirit through leadership in education, research, rescue, rehabilitation and release. With a mission to preserve the environment and its marine life, CMA is home to rescued dolphins, sea turtles, river otters, stingrays, a nurse shark and more. Through Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, CMA conducts important global research focused on protecting manatees, North Atlantic right whales and sea turtles. Major motion picture Dolphin Tale (2011) and its sequel Dolphin Tale 2 (2014) features the true stories of rescued resident dolphins Winter and Hope, inspiring millions around the world. The mission and potential to change people’s lives differentiates Clearwater Marine Aquarium from any other aquarium in the world.
© 2023 Clearwater Marine Aquarium | 249 Windward Passage, Clearwater, FL 33767 | 727-445-1139 | 727-441-1790 | mission.cmaquarium.org | cmaquarium.org
We believe in preserving our environment while inspiring the human spirit through leadership in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine life; environmental education; research; and conservation.
A Florida non-profit 501(c)(3) organization