FWC installs manatee camera at Three Sisters Springs
News Release
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Media contact: Law enforcement contact: Katie Purcell, 850-459-6585 Manatee information contact: Pat Behnke, 850-251-2130
In its continual efforts to protect the Florida
manatee, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
(FWC) has implemented a new strategy. In coordination with the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, the FWC has installed a camera at the
entrance to Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River.
Three Sisters Springs attracts a large number of
manatees during the colder months and is therefore a popular spot
for manatee viewing. To protect the manatees, the USFWS has
established several areas around the springs where entry is
prohibited. Additionally, the FWC set up a camera that streams live
video to a public website, allowing remote viewing of manatee
activity.
"The FWC gets many complaints regarding manatee
harassment," said Lt. Col. Bruce Buckson of the FWC's Division of
Law Enforcement. "Now, officers and dispatch can check the live,
online video if complaints come in regarding Three Sisters
Springs."
FWC biologists will also be able to monitor
concentrations of manatees and people visiting the springs to see
them.
The camera is fully solar-powered and will operate
only from dawn to dusk.
Members of the public can view the video, but there
are also a few technical details to know first. Only 30 people can
access the website at one time. If additional people try to access
it, they will receive an error message until spaces open up.
Visitors will be prompted to install ActiveX controllers the first
time they visit the website. Viewers can also click on the camera
icon to take a snapshot of the video.
The public can see the live images by visiting the
following link and clicking on the "Single" tab at the top of the
page: http://manateecam.viewnetcam.com. It may take
several minutes after clicking the "Single" tab before visitors are
prompted to install ActiveX.
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