FWC APPROVES MANATEE ZONE CHANGES FOR DUVAL COUNTY

December 7, 2006
Contact: Carol Pratt (850) 251-2212

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved proposed changes Wednesday to manatee zones in the downtown Jacksonville area, aligning them with recently revised federal manatee zones.

Commissioners unanimously approved the change to the zones in the St. Johns River, generally south of Reddie Point.

In 2003, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established manatee zones that were considered too restrictive by the city of Jacksonville. The city issued a notice of intent to sue. However, the city, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and FWC reached an agreement in January 2005 that resulted in changes to the federal zones.

As part of the agreement, FWC officials agreed to propose revised state zones that would match the new, less-restrictive federal zones in the St. Johns River.

“The proposal will reduce confusion about the manatee zones and allow for a more consistent and coordinated enforcement effort throughout the zones,” said Kipp Frohlich, section leader for FWC’s Imperiled Species Management section. “It does not add any restrictions to what exists under federal, state or local rules.”