Choice for Change (Help stop manatee abuse)

This video examines our role as consumers in manatee harassment and abuse. For more information on manatees and their conservation, please visit Save the Manatee Club at www.savethemanatee.org. Winner of the prestigious 2008 Our World Underwater Video Competition.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Manatee
• harassment
• abuse
• crystal
• river
• florida
• decopixel
• OWU

[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.

[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.

[HBWKnuckles]

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

[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.

[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.

[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.