BRUNSWICK, Ga. – Boaters should be cautious of sea turtles and manatees because of the abundance of sightings on Georgia’s coast.
Boat hits are a leading cause of sea turtle strandings and manatee injuries and deaths.
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Manatees and all turtle species in Georgia are protected by federal and state laws.
Here’s some tips on what to watch for in the coast’s murky waters:
- A footprint of swirls marks a 9-foot-long manatee underwater.
- A loggerhead sea turtle will only its head when it surfaces.
- Sea turtles spend more time on the surface during spring which puts them at greater risk of being hit by a boat.
What can boaters do?
- Slow down or steer clear, if you happen to see a manatee, stand by and contact, the DNR at (800-272-8363). This provides biologists the best chance to help these animals and gather data in conserving them.
- Boaters will not be charged if they operate the boat responsibly and hit one of the creatures by accident.
State Sea Turtle Program Coordinator Mark Dodd, a senior wildlife biologist, said sea turtles are not limited to the ocean side of barriers.
“They occur everywhere, not just in the ocean,” Dodd said. “They’re in the sounds, the estuaries, the tidal creeks.”
While nesting data indicates that loggerheads are holding their own, boat strikes that kill or hurt reproductive females are a huge threat.
Of the 101 dead or injured sea turtles found on Georgia beaches last year almost a third of them suffered injuries consistent with them being hit by a boat.
Manatees share a similar problem because they swim just below the surface, which puts them in harm’s way for oncoming boats.
Water craft collisions caused more than a fourth of the manatee deaths in the state since 2005.
West Indian Manatees, including the Florida subspecies found in Georgia, are protected under the Endangered species Act, where they’re listed as threatened.
Manatees migrate from Florida to Georgia every Spring. Some move back and forth between the states through the summer, until colder temperatures begin and then they migrate back to Florida.
But from as early as March into November, manatees occur in tidal waters in costal Georgia, said senior wildlife biologist Jessica Thompson.
Manatees take advantage of Georgia’s marshlands.
“The brackish marshlands, tidal and freshwater ecosystems along our coast are full of food – emergent vegetation and smooth cordgrass. Salt marsh cordgrass like Spartina alterniflora and aquatic vegetation are primarily along the marsh edge. And algae, another food source, grows on or near docks" said Thompson.
Thompson said that there are three main ways boaters can lessen the risk posed by manatees:
- Be alert and have someone scan for wildlife.
- Stay in the deeper channels in the tidal rivers and creeks.
- Heed speed and no wake zones, specifically around docks.
Boaters are encouraged to report any dead manatees or sea turtles they see. (If the turtle is tagged, include the color and number in the report.)
DNR monitors sea turtle and manatee mortality through the Marine Turtle and Marine Mammal Stranding and Salvage Networks.
Report stranded sea turtles in Georgia by calling DNR and if you see or photograph a dead manatee, call 800-272-8363.
Help protect manatees by:
- Looking for manatees before starting your boat’s motor.
- Using caution when navigating shallow waters and along the edge of a marsh.
- “Heeding slow speed, no wake and manatee warning signs, especially around docks.”
- Wearing polarized sunglasses to reduce glare and make it easier to spot manatees below the surface.
- Watching for trails of large swirls in the water called footprints.
Never feed manatees or give them fresh water because this could teach these animals to approach docks.
Also, do not pursue, harass, or play with manatees because it’s harmful to them and illegal.
From sea turtles to bald eagles, DNR’s Wildlife Conservation Section works to conserve rare and other Georgia wildlife, as well as rare plants, and natural habitats.
The agency mainly depends on fundraisers, grants, and contributions.
You can support the state’s Nongame Wildlife Conservation Fund by: