A manatee calf, its left pectoral flipper badly entangled in monofilament fishing line, was rescued Wednesday near Ocean Reef by Dolphin Research Center’s Manatee Rescue Team, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) and Miami Seaquarium. The calf, which measured almost six feet in length, was successfully surrounded by the net and brought up onto the rescue boat where Seaquarium veterinarians Dr. Mike Renner and Dr. Maya Rodriguez removed the embedded monofilament and treated the wounded flipper. They determined that the calf was in good health and that the rest of the injury would heal on its own. Personnel then returned the youngster to the water where its mother quickly joined it and the pair swam away.
Ocean Reef residents originally spotted the calf with its entanglement last week and personnel from the FWCC’s manatee program traveled on scene to assess the situation. On Tuesday, a manatee biologist attached a radio tag to the trailing monofilament line, so that the calf’s location could be tracked and a rescue launched.
The calf’s entanglement reinforces the need to reduce the amount of monofilament fishing line and other marine debris in Florida Keys waters. If approached by manatees when fishing from a boat, sea wall or shoreline, reel in all lines until the animals depart. Never leave fishing lines or crab lines unattended. Do not discard line overboard. If fishing line gets snagged, attempt to free it instead of cutting it and letting it remain in the environment. Monofilament line can be recycled in bins that are located at bridges, marinas and other places in Monroe County. For a list of locations, visit www.fishinglinerecycling.org.
If you see an entangled, injured or orphaned manatee, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922). That is the first step to set in motion a response from a trained team. Dolphin Research Center is the only Manatee Rescue Team in the Florida Keys authorized by the state and federal governments to aid manatees in distress. Located on the Overseas Highway at mile marker 59, Grassy Key, the center has been home to bottlenose dolphins and sea lions since 1984 and is an accredited member of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. For more information, call 305-289-1121.
