The primary author of this site, Matt Clemons, has served as a board member of Save the Manatee and runs their Do Not
Disturb member tours. He has also been presented with a Manatee Hero award by SMC for his long standing advocacy for
the manatee.
Matt has a degree in Wildlife Conservation from the University of Florida. While at UF, Matt was employed by the Florida
Co-Operative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. He worked on sport fishery research projects in North Central Florida and
the Everglades and manatee studies in Southwest Florida.
He has also served with the Florida Marine Research Institute (FMRI ) now a part of FWCC) as a manatee biologist,
served on the Citrus County EcoTourism Committee and sat on the Manatee Advisory Committee of Citrus County. He is a
certified Eco-Heritage Guide and instructed a portion of the University of North Florida's Eco-Heritage Guide Certification
Program entitled "Environmental Ethics and Sustainability". He now runs ecotours including manatee observation
programs.
Disturb member tours. He has also been presented with a Manatee Hero award by SMC for his long standing advocacy for
the manatee.
Matt has a degree in Wildlife Conservation from the University of Florida. While at UF, Matt was employed by the Florida
Co-Operative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. He worked on sport fishery research projects in North Central Florida and
the Everglades and manatee studies in Southwest Florida.
He has also served with the Florida Marine Research Institute (FMRI ) now a part of FWCC) as a manatee biologist,
served on the Citrus County EcoTourism Committee and sat on the Manatee Advisory Committee of Citrus County. He is a
certified Eco-Heritage Guide and instructed a portion of the University of North Florida's Eco-Heritage Guide Certification
Program entitled "Environmental Ethics and Sustainability". He now runs ecotours including manatee observation
programs.
| CEO's for Wild Manatees |
We are a group of Citizen advocates and Ecotour Operators who are interested in protecting manatees by keeping them
wild. The name of our group is CEOs for Wild Manatees. It is our core belief that wild animals need to stay wild, and that
as in all wildlife viewing, only passive viewing should be encouraged. That essentially means look, but don't touch. We
believe that only with strict adherence to the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission's Wildlife Viewing Guidelines , and
enforcement of those guidelines, can manatee viewing programs of any kind (swim or no swim) coexist with the need to
protect manatees in the long term.. We understand the economic importance of the manatee to the local economy and
therefore we seek this compromise as a way to allow the industry to continue and sustain itself for the long term.
While touching is not recommended, it is sometimes inadvertent. Where we take exception is the more aggressive action of
rubbing or petting. This is clearly not passive and therefore violates both USFWS and FWCC Guidelines. Taken from the
basic principles of animal behavior, petting is simply another stimulus to which an animal reacts. It is no different than
feeding or watering. Manatee behavior is learned and is taught from one generation of animals to the next. One cannot
assume that this is not harmful in the long term. While the act of petting itself is not lethal, it can result in temporal and
spatial shifts in manatee habitat usage than can result in mortality. For example, conditioned manatees may be using the
bay more frequently in summer months putting themselves in harms way by feeding and resting in the high speed watersport
zone. Manatee mortality from boat strikes is on the rise in Citrus County. In 2008 we reached #1 in the State of Florida for
watercraft related manatee mortality on a per capita basis. Can we be sure that this is not the result of the acclimation
process?
We encourage everyone to respect all wildlife and especially our manatees. If you are an ecotour operator, all you have to
do is abide by the existing guidelines and not encourage your clients to continue the cycle of habituation.
wild. The name of our group is CEOs for Wild Manatees. It is our core belief that wild animals need to stay wild, and that
as in all wildlife viewing, only passive viewing should be encouraged. That essentially means look, but don't touch. We
believe that only with strict adherence to the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission's Wildlife Viewing Guidelines , and
enforcement of those guidelines, can manatee viewing programs of any kind (swim or no swim) coexist with the need to
protect manatees in the long term.. We understand the economic importance of the manatee to the local economy and
therefore we seek this compromise as a way to allow the industry to continue and sustain itself for the long term.
While touching is not recommended, it is sometimes inadvertent. Where we take exception is the more aggressive action of
rubbing or petting. This is clearly not passive and therefore violates both USFWS and FWCC Guidelines. Taken from the
basic principles of animal behavior, petting is simply another stimulus to which an animal reacts. It is no different than
feeding or watering. Manatee behavior is learned and is taught from one generation of animals to the next. One cannot
assume that this is not harmful in the long term. While the act of petting itself is not lethal, it can result in temporal and
spatial shifts in manatee habitat usage than can result in mortality. For example, conditioned manatees may be using the
bay more frequently in summer months putting themselves in harms way by feeding and resting in the high speed watersport
zone. Manatee mortality from boat strikes is on the rise in Citrus County. In 2008 we reached #1 in the State of Florida for
watercraft related manatee mortality on a per capita basis. Can we be sure that this is not the result of the acclimation
process?
We encourage everyone to respect all wildlife and especially our manatees. If you are an ecotour operator, all you have to
do is abide by the existing guidelines and not encourage your clients to continue the cycle of habituation.
| Join Us |
| If you are a concerned citizen or ecotour operator and want to see wild manatees stay wild, please sign our pledge. There is no fee, no call for donations, just a request that you abide by the FWCC Guidelines and encourage others to do so as well. Click the "I Support..." Button Below |
|
| Take the Manatee Watchers' Pledge |
|
| "Enjoy your travels in this great land of ours, and remember, it’s our responsibility to keep wildlife wild." Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf U.S. Army, Retired |
|
|
| Please support those Businesses that have taken the Pledge. Click Here for Tour Provider Member Profiles |
| If you choose to use one of the ecofriendly tours listed above, please drop us a note and tell us about your experience. Was it as represented ? |
How do you know if a tour operator is legitimate? While not a guarantee, one method we have found effective
at sorting out misleading advertising is to search the terms manatee belly rub. If the tour operator is
advocating or promising that you can rub its belly, find someone else. Note: Please read the actual context
on these searches. There are a few sites listed that caution you not to do it. Ours included. Also be aware
that sometimes customers will post something inappropriate. Finally, ask about groups size. Dive boats
carrying over 6 people should be avoided.
at sorting out misleading advertising is to search the terms manatee belly rub. If the tour operator is
advocating or promising that you can rub its belly, find someone else. Note: Please read the actual context
on these searches. There are a few sites listed that caution you not to do it. Ours included. Also be aware
that sometimes customers will post something inappropriate. Finally, ask about groups size. Dive boats
carrying over 6 people should be avoided.
| In the short video above, the first sequence shows the right way to swim with manatees, the last part (different swimmer) shows the wrong way. Video used by permission, Tracy Colsen (Nature Coast Kayak Tours). |
 |  |  |  |