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LEE COUNTY RULING PUTS MANATEES IN DANGER:
YOUR IMMEDIATE HELP IS NEEDED

 

THE ISSUE:

 

A recent ruling by a local Lee County judge has resulted in very serious lapses in manatee protection in Lee County where more manatees have been killed by boats in a single year than anywhere else in Florida.

 

Last year, local boaters purposefully sped through manatee protection zones, hoping to be ticketed so they could challenge the state rules.  Not only were the defendants found not guilty, the local judge went even further and invalidated the rules!  The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) decided to appeal the case but failed to file its paperwork on time, so the local appeals court refused to hear the appeal on its merits.  The FWCC has filed an appeal with the District Court of Appeals (DCA), but until their case is heard, there are no longer any measures to protect manatees in these important county waters.

 

For full details, read the article posted on Save the Manatee Club's website at the following link:

 

http://www.savethemanatee.org/taleectyruling.htm

 

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

 

While the case is pending, we need to take steps NOW to make sure manatees are protected.

 

Please write to Sam Hamilton, SE Regional Director, and Dave Hankla, Field Supervisor, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  Ask them to immediately adopt an emergency speed zone rule to take the place of the state rule that was invalidated.  Please also thank them for their decision not to allow permitting in these areas until protection is reinstated.

 

Sam Hamilton, SE Regional Director
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
1875 Century Blvd., Suite 400
Atlanta, Georgia 30345
Fax: 404-679-4006
E-mail:
sam_hamilton@fws.gov

 

Dave Hankla, Field Supervisor
Jacksonville Field Office
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
6620 Southpoint Drive South, Suite 310
Jacksonville, FL 32216
Fax: 904-232-2404
E-mail:
dave_hankla@fws.gov

 

Thank you!  Your help on this important issue can really make a difference.