It's the Law: On the Water

Manatee Protection Zones

The Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act establishes over 20 manatee protection vessel speed zones on Florida waters. It is illegal to violate any of these posted zones. In addition, it is illegal to harass, hunt, capture, or kill any marine mammal, including manatees. You must obey these vessel speed zones.

• Vessel Exclusion Area: An area marked with a vertical diamond shape with a cross in the center that indicates all vessels or certain classes of vessels are excluded from the area.
• Idle Speed No Wake Zone: A designated area known to have a large number of manatees. You must not annoy, molest, harass, disturb, collide with, injure, or harm manatees; and you must operate at idle speed.

• Slow Speed, Minimum Wake Zone: A designated area where manatees are known to congregate. In a slow speed zone, vessel operators must operate at a slow speed to avoid either intentionally or negligently annoying, molesting, harassing, disturbing, colliding with, injuring, or harming manatees.

• Maximum 25 MPH Speed Zone: A controlled area within which a vessel’s speed must not exceed 25 miles per hour. If at 25 mph your vessel’s bow rises and restricts visibility, or your vessel produces an excessive wake endangering other vessels or natural resources, you must reduce speed further.

• Maximum 30 MPH Speed Zone: A controlled area within which a vessel’s speed must not exceed 30 miles per hour. If at 30 mph your vessel’s bow rises and restricts visibility, or your vessel produces an excessive wake endangering other vessels or natural resources, you must reduce speed further.
• Maximum 35 MPH Speed Zone: A controlled area within which a vessel’s speed must not exceed 35 miles per hour. If at 35 mph your vessel’s bow rises and restricts visibility, or your vessel produces an excessive wake endangering other vessels or natural resources, you must reduce speed further.