Choice for Change (Help stop manatee abuse)

[HBWKnuckles]

Great video man, thx. More videos like that are required.

[PinkPunkyKat]

Petting and stroking them is okay if the manatee wants to be stroked but if they swim away, people should let them. People should let manatees come to them. Jumping on or restaning should be punished.

[Zenthik]

If your intention is to direct money away from negligent or abusive tour operators, why is the marquee on the boat that cornered the manatee blurred out? This seems contradictory to your aim.

[ravensrun65]

@Zenthik Unfortunately, there are people that will seek out such ruthless operators just so they know they can get away with harassing the manatees. I completely understand your thoughts, wanting to know a list of the bad ones...it just feeds the bad ones pockets.

[alexs434]

airboyac, i share your same opinion. this video was very hard to watch. i am planing on adopting a manatee. i also wish to swim with the sometime so i will serch and check for illealel and legal tours

[scubaskipper]

Looks to me like the footage of the most extreme behavior was by private or rental people, not a group tour done by the more reputable operations. Too often people think it's some kind of petting zoo. These animals deserve our respect and proper stewardship.

[Lemish2008]

this is ridiculous... this group of people need to be boycotted and rid off... Save the manatees

[joymin4]

You should post the names of the dive groups that violate policy. That way a boycott of those companies can be organized.

[bigjeramy89]

man people are stupid... i would just chill with the manatees and relax with them

[xxxlotus000]

This would be terribly easy to stop...have the Florida Dept. of Wildlife (or whatever analogue they have) to actually police the tour guides.

The problem is that these tours bring in vast quantities of money to these specific areas in Florida.

It's painfully easy to look the other way in such instances, especially when some of the officials in charge of policing the waters might be (probably are) elected.

[yoshinosakura]

this is so sad...

[KayakMike1963]

This is why the kayak group I run will NEVER participate in a manatee tour.

[Dessmodus]

this reminds me when an author came to our school and influenced us to adopt a manatee as a school. I donated the most and got to pick it out. we picked one named Chessie. and it feels good to help save one.

[airboyac]

This IS terribble. Manatees are loving and gentle creatures. and THEY don't deserve this. Somthing needs to be done about this. It needs to be put to a STOP.

[caitylady972]

this is horrible...

its obvious they're distressed and the people keep insisting on touching them.

i feel so mad at the guy who looked like he was trying to surf on it..and the poor calf... :(

[Rosebud579]

U DONT KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE MANATEES

[airboyac]

I LOVE Manatees. They are my favorite favorite animal. They always have been and They always will. I would give anything to swim with them. And I would do it all day if I Could.

[oatmealbrain5689]

terrible

[mistressjenny11]

this is horrific, it's a shame more people don't take time to learn about this, i love manatees i hope more people learn to respect them

--and is it just me or am i the only one who thinks that since PETA is SOO invested in picking fights with the most random people and places in the world sometimes [i'm not saying its bad, i think they have a great cause], that if they can fight dolphin slaughter in japan why cant they help with manatee abuse in the u.s.a.?????????

[Alyeska123]

Great job! People should take the time to research the operators they are considering going with.

[chelsearosexoxo]

this is absolutely repulsive.

people need to be punished . this is discusting . poor manatees.

[alohasoy]

this is absolutely horrible! i feel so sorry for the manatee, these tour opperators need to be disciplined and fired IMMEDIATELY!

[MKAAYx87]

omg i cried. i love manattees and will do anything to save them

[Rosebud579]

That is very sad. I hope for manatees to become free. Great video, too. The divers should defently be stopped. Manatees should live freely and hapily. Thank you for sending this notice to me. I agree in 100% supporting manatees. Next time I do a persausive speech, I will do it about this. Thanks agian!:)

[airenb04]

people are really cruel the tour should be stopped to protect the manatees. or better yet they should educate the tour first before diving. the local goverment should to something about it asap. i am 100% in supporting the manatees.

[karacaraplancus]

I spent all of january in crystal river studying lateralization in the manatees for a study project I am doing with my college, I was horrified each day by the harrassments and by the huge groups the tour boats would bring out, the more people they have the less they can monitor them, group size stringencies would help, like 5 and under per tour, and I think more people should kayak, which is what I did everyday to get to three sisters springs to do my observations.

[hmthompson]

Great Video-for eduction and awareness I hope many see this. It would be great to have a video stuch as this one as a pre-req. for people to see before manatee viewing/contact. If there is any way I can get involved and help please let me know.

[birdpix]

Awesome video that should be seen by every Manatee fan. Thank you for creating an insightful, educational, and eye-opening expose on a problem that would have remained hidden underwater and out of sight for most people without your talents and efforts. Please keep up the great work with bringing the majesty of the underwater realm to everyone - you do it really, really well. Congrats on your Gold win in the OUR WORLD UNDERWATER: 2008 contest for this film,it was well deserved! Eric&Martha in FL

[misujry]

I don't know anyone who hops on tour boats. The legions of people to harass manatees are all from "out of town". If manatee tours were to be banned the only people effected would be the tour boat folks. The tourists would forget within a week and move on to the next natural wonder that they could gleefully destroy. "Public awareness" would be a big help as I had no idea that there were that many tour boats clogging the water. I guess I was stupid enough to believe manatee had protected areas.

[decopixel]

I appreciate your comments. It is true that most tour tourists are just that, tourists. However, people come from all over the world to swim with manatees. I don't think it is something they will soon forget. Unfortunately, they also won't forget some of the bad behaviors they may learn and tell others about such as it's ok to approach first, or pet like a dog, or chase...etc. Many times those people then rent a boat the next day or the next time, and without supervision, it gets worse.

[decopixel]

I would kindly take exception that the only people that would be affected by a ban are the tour operators. All the resources those tourists use including restaurants, hotels, and shopping would also be affected. I'm not saying the manatee wouldn't benefit from a ban but I'm not convinced it's necessary yet.

[misujry]

It was not that many years ago that there was no one dependent on manatee tourism. Most of the tour operators are not locals nor even Florida natives. They stopped scalloping once the popularity of that "sport" about wiped out the scallops. Fishing is nothing like it used to be, so why not simply ban contact with manatees? So what? We lose a tour boat industry or we lose the manatees. Think about it. Which is more important? Carpetbaggers or manatees?

[decopixel]

Thank you for your comments. I don't currently believe they need to be mutually exclusive. If the tours operators and rentals companies behave more responsibly then I think we can have a win/win outcome. That, however, is going to require tougher rules, manpower to enforce them, and a greater public awareness of the manatee's plight and how our choices can have a direct impact on the survival of the manatee.

[regrouper2]

As a 30 year resident of Crystal River, I have had on numerous occasions witnessed this same careless behavior from the American Pro Diving Center staff and captains. This reckless behavior is jeopardizing the life work of many residents and business who depend on our local manatee tourism and ecotourism. This company and the captains who continue to contribute and allow this abuse need to prosecuted to the full extent of the law. These wonderful, harmless mammals deserve better treatment.

[decopixel]

American Pro was the company that blocked me from filming and held the manatee for the kids. However, the scene of the boat cornering the manatee was Capt. Wayne who was renting the Aqua Images boat at the time. The authorities spoke to Capt. Wayne after the video was given to them. However, he is still operating different craft on King's Bay as of this posting.

American Pro behavior is also shown on video "Education or Harassment" in my favorites.

[SpringDivers]

I drove boats for several operators, for several years in Crystal River and the observations that you made were commensurate with my experiences. Thanks for the video.

[SpringDivers]

I drove boats for several operators, for several years on the waters of Crystal River and have made the same observations that you have. It's a shame that one bad apple has to ruin the barrel. Thanks for the video.

[k46dey]

Thank you so much! I lived in Crystal River and Homosassa for years and had many encounters initiated by manatees. Those are the special moments in your life you'll remember forever. The harrassors will never know that feeling.

Please continue your good work.

Kris

[FLkrakr]

Excellent video. How this can continue to be ignored is beyond my comprehension. Keep up the good work.

[ocnb12]

Very proud of your work! Thank you for all the time, danger and hard work it took to make this film complete! You rock! Make more!

Blair Mott

ocnb12

[oceanbluedivers]

It's amazing that anyone would harass these beautiful and docile creatures. It's a crime.

[mntdiver]

Congratulations. I missed the film festival this year. I wish I could have seen it and the audience response. Thanks...