Wednesday January 24, 2007, 10:22 am
Cal this is more truth than poetry.The boaters do not heed the signs whihc are large and in all the right places. The speed of the boats is simply crazy and the police boats in the area that I am from can not keep up with them in more ways than one. Good post and thank you

Wednesday January 24, 2007, 10:34 am
noted

Wednesday January 24, 2007, 12:00 pm
So sad that these peaceful animals are not respected more.

Wednesday January 24, 2007, 12:28 pm
My Florida friends tell me that the police boats cannot keep pace with the hundreds of hot rod speed boats that their supposed to chase down and give tickets too. I believe helicopters are the only thing that has a chance of catching the boaters and at huge expense to the tax payers. The only way to compensate the taxpayers is to offer very large fines for when they are caught, and leave an example to respect the wildlife in the area. 2 strikes and you "loose your boat" might make an example. We cannot afford to loose these beautiful and docile animals.

Wednesday January 24, 2007, 1:54 pm
They have signs up where manatees mingle. But, you know you get out there and just go nuts I guess. And they do move slow. Yes, fines and the 2 strikes is a great idea. But, the number of boats is amazing, and worse every year. Even with the high gas prices. Something should've been done years ago.

Wednesday January 24, 2007, 5:31 pm
This is so terrible, here we are trying to put an emphasis on protection, protection from the motor crafts, if the police can't keep up to the offenders who else is supposed to be on top of the situation. The manateese are the ones to strike out all together. They are the inocent, they are the inocent being staughtered. They haven't any recorse.

Thursday January 25, 2007, 10:40 am
Write the Governor & ask for more police protection & increased fines - some of that Homeland Security funds could do double duty: more cops, with Faster boats to keep out Possible Terrorists (eco-terrorists anyway!;)!

Thursday January 25, 2007, 3:38 pm
noted

Friday January 26, 2007, 10:32 am
It really is so sad what is and has been happening to the manatees... Such wonderful creatures they are... Hopefully someone with enough power will hear our calls, and the calls of the manatee, to help set them free from human ignorism...