Manatee and Other Marine Animal Observer Information

Observer and Watch Information

Many state and federally issued permits require a marine animal watch program to  help prevent injury or death of protected marine species from permitted in-water activities.  A watch program typically involves observers that are experienced in observing the marine species expected to be present in the work location.  These species include: manatees, marine turtles, dolphins and whales. 

The main purpose of a watch program is to advise personnel to cease operation of any in-water construction activity upon sighting a protected marine animal within 50 feet of the activity.  This activity includes, but is not limited to, dredging and filling operations as well as the boating operations associated with this work, blasting, high speed boat racing and marine events with large numbers of boats. 

Observers should work in shifts in order to reduce fatigue and increase the likelihood that marine species will be sighted.  Four to six hour shifts should be the maximum, and observers should be equipped with polarized sunglasses to aid in observation.  While all personnel involved with in-water work are responsible for looking out for protected species, designated observers should not perform any other duties while observing.

Depending on the type of work and the location, some permits require state or federal approval of observers or the watch plan before work can be performed.  Other permits require a dedicated observer but do not require pre-approval by the wildlife agencies or a specific amount of experience. 

Observers

There is no FWC observer certification, training or approval program.  Observers must be approved on a project – by - project basis.  The amount of experience an observer is required to have for a specific project depends on the work being performed, its location, and possibly the time of year. 

If an FWC approved observer or watch program is required by permit, a request for approval must be submitted by writing a letter to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), 6A, 620 S. Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600, or emailed to ImperiledSpecies@myfwc.com. This request for approval should include:

• Permit Name and Number;

• Project Location;

• Project Description;

• Dates the Project is anticipated to begin and end;

• The required observer information.

Required Observer Information

1. Submit the required observer information for specific individuals when requesting approval.  Individual information should be submitted on the FWC Observer Approval Form (revised January 2008) and emailed to the address above.  Individuals with records on file with FWC do not need to resubmit their forms in the approval process, unless their experience has increased substantially or their contact information has changed. 
    

2. Submit the required project information and request a list from FWC for individuals who have adequate documented experience for that specific type of project on file with FWC.  Observers selected from this list can be considered approved by FWC for that specific project.  This list will be generated on a project – by - project basis.

FWC maintains the records of individuals who have submitted the required information to FWC for past project approvals.  Lists generated from these records are not meant to represent preference for these observers, only that their information is already available. 

Manatee Observation Video

This manatee observation video has been produced to discuss the basics of observing manatees, particularly while in-water work or other activities are being performed.  It is highly recommended that all personnel associated with in-water work review this video, since all personnel are responsible for looking for protected marine species.

It has been divided into the following chapters to reduce download time.  Once one chapter has been viewed, continue to the next chapter.

The manatee observer video was produced by Diane Wilkins Productions