Unexpected Opportunities for Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) Education and Citizen Science

The Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) mainly resides within the state’s coastal waters, but sharing this habitat with thousands of watercrafts, either registered, unregistered, or visiting, has proven challenging for its survival (Bassett et al., 2020). The primary source of mortality for the Florida manatee is collisions with boats (Runge et al., 2007). The boating industry is extensive within Florida, and the state hosts multiple international boat shows annually, including the Miami International Boat Show (MIBS). MIBS attracts over 700 vendors from more than 60 different countries as well as over 100,000 attendees. An important component of the MIBS is vessel sea trials where vendors take potential buyers on test rides. During MIBS 2022, the location for these sea trials was within a State Manatee Protection Zone with regulations stating, “slow speed all year” (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission [FWC], 1991).