Why?  Well Manatees mostly hang out around Florida. There they are protected and are much loved by the locals who appreciate their gentle nature and their contribution to tourism. Tourists are encouraged to intereract with manatees and learn more about these beautiful mammals.

(Dugongs have fish-shaped tails, broader noses and are bigger)
_{Manatee with diver in Florida                                     Dugong in Australian waters}

There are strict guidelines about how you intereract with them.  VERY strict. Every tourist MUST watch a video educating them - move slowly, only touch with one hand, let the manatee approach you, not the other way around and there are many roped off areas where manatees know they can rest without being disturbed.


Locals have formed groups who take it in turn to patrol the areas on kayaks, greeting tourists and making sure everyone respects the manatees. Backing them up is some serious legislation.



                                                                                                <sub>An area of Crystal Springs, Florida  

Freya demonstrating the 'one hand pat' with a manatee</sub>

There's also a  major conservation agreement been put in place by The Conservation Fund, the National Wildlife Refuge Association and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Boat owners have to stick to strict speed limits in manatee habitats and the waters are patrolled by water police. So you can see the extent to which Americans go to protect their manatees.


In Queensland, a major dugong habitat is set to be disturbed by plans to dredge Gladstone Port which will become the base of one of the world's biggest liquid natural gas exporters.

This is really going to affect the dugongs as they're already starving after the Queensland floods which would disturbe their habitats and feeding grounds (they graze on sea grass). Over six million cubic tonnes will be dredged from the basin starting in July by Van Oord and Dredging International Australia.

The WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) says the dredging will be the final straw for the dugongs in this area. The Queensland government  is conducting a study on the impact the floods had on marine life and want the dredging project to be delayed until the report is finished. Sounds pretty sensible to us! Whilst the Qld government say stringent monitoring of wildlife is taking place, it seems pointless if we know enough to say for certain that we need to let the feeding grounds re-establish and the dugongs recover before even thinking about dredging.



                                                                                             _{Gladston dredging plans
Crystal River, Florida}

As usual it's all down to money and whilst there are fabulous opportunities for Australia with this liquid gas facility, our dugong populations are precious and irreplacable. Can we say that about the gas facility? The Queensland government should realise what it's real assets are and protect them accordingly...maybe they can take their next holiday in Florida and see what their government has done there.

For more info, go to: Capricorn Conservation Council  http://www.cccqld.org.au/  and  http://www.wwf.org.au (who are widely protecting dugongs and their habitats by working with governments and farmers to reduce pesticide runoff.


Source:  http://www.smh.com.au/environment/last-straw-for-starving-dugongs-20110304-1bi9g.html
pics:  beachchairscientist.com (manatee) bradspictures (manatee with carrot) refugewatch.org (map) gladstone observer (map)