Report a Manatee in Distress

CALL 1-888-404-FWCC (3922) IMMEDIATELY.

The Call Comes First

Please do not attempt to approach or assist the manatee. Above all, do not get into the water. Manatees are normally very gentle, but they are still wild, powerful animals and can weigh up to a ton! Getting in the water puts you at risk, and your good intentions may scare away the injured animal and prevent professional rescuers from giving it assistance.

Your call will be answered by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Their personnel can then find out more about the manatee and what you're observing. Very often, manatee behavior might look odd or troublesome, but actually be normal. Your information will help determine what response is needed and the FWC can then contact and alert the rescue teams. This is the first step in launching a trained, authorized response to aid the animal(s). Nobody else can put the process into action.

The Florida Keys has a population of manatees that make their home up and down the chain of islands throughout the year.  When ocean temperatures drop, more manatees make their way from mainland Florida to the Keys, so the population increases at a time when there are also more people visiting and more boats out on the water.

Now, as much as ever, manatees need your assistance.  If you see a manatee with an entanglement or an injury or one displaying behavior that appears to indicate distress, please call the telephone number above immediately.

Thank you!

Donate & Support DRC’s Manatee Rescue Efforts

Dolphin Research Center is the only state and federal government authorized Manatee Rescue Team in the Florida Keys. For more than three decades, we have responded to countless of these animals when they are in trouble. From orphaned babies to those wounded by boat hits, entanglements, or others suffering from disease or other harmful conditions, when a manatee needs help, we are ready to come to its aid.  

Professional, specially-trained, experienced assessors, rescuers, and medical personnel make up our team. The training is crucial to reduce the risk of injury to both manatee and mankind during a rescue. We work closely with the state and federal entities responsible for overseeing the welfare of these animals.

We are licensed to verify the location and condition of manatee(s) injured and/or distressed, and to rescue and transport them. Our primary response area is the entire Florida Keys island chain (~ 120 miles), but could respond anywhere in the Southeastern United States, along the Atlantic Coast, the Gulf of Mexico and elswhere anywhere within the United States upon request of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

We do not house manatees at the facility as a rule. We are licensed as a temporary rehabilitation/holding facility for manatees for up to 48 hours, but primarily transport injured and/or distressed manatees to designated rehabilitation facilities.

Dolphin Research Center is a non-profit 501c3 organization. We do not get paid to rescue manatees. We rely on donations from generous, caring people like you who join our Membership Programs to support these efforts. Knowing of the need for trained rescue response, we decided to commit our limited resources to helping manatees in the Florida Keys. Over the years, we've responded to hundreds and hundreds of calls. With your help, we will continue to do so in the future.

To help support DRC’s manatee rescue efforts consider becoming a Member.  All Dolphin Society Memberships support manatee rescue.

Manatees and the Law

Manatees are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978.  It is illegal to feed, water, harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, annoy, or molest manatees.

The state of Florida has also established regulatory speed zones to protect the manatee and its habitat.
 
Anyone convicted of violating state law faces maximum fines of $500 and/or imprisonment of up to 60 days. Conviction for violating federal protection laws under the Endangered Species Act is punishable by fines up to $100,,000 and/or one year in prison.

	If you love them, please don't feed them or give them water! Manatees' natural feeding behaviors adequately meet their nutritional requirements. They don't need water or lettuce.  Handouts from humans result in manatees frequenting busy marinas and canals where they are more likely to become entangled in ropes or hit by boats!
	Slow down, look around! Respect posted slow speed zones when boating and stay alert when traveling in shallow water. Manatees do not swim fast! They may not be able to dive or swim out of your way in time. Wear polarized sunglasses which will enable you to better see manatees that might be swimming below the water’s surface. If you spot a manatee, remember that other animals might also be in the area.
	Don't trash the oceans! Discarded monofilament fishing line, synthetic rope, plastic bags, cigarette butts, and all other forms of litter are extremely harmful to marine life. Bring all your trash back to shore for proper disposal. Fishing line can be recycled at area bridges, marinas, and many tackle shops.
	Admire them from a safe distance! Observing these amazing creatures is a thrill! Watch and take pictures from far enough away so you don't scare off the animal. Please don't accustom them to humans by swimming near or trying to touch them. Thank you!

Monofilament Fishing Line Recycling in Florida | Manatee Rescue & Marine Conservation

Monofilament fishing line recycling is an important part of protecting manatees and Florida’s marine ecosystem. Discarded fishing line is one of the most dangerous types of marine debris, often causing entanglement, injury, and death for manatees, sea turtles, birds, and fish.

The Dolphin Research Center supports responsible marine stewardship, including proper disposal and recycling of fishing line through Florida’s statewide Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program (MRRP).

What Is Monofilament and Why Is It Dangerous?

Monofilament fishing line is a thin, strong plastic line used in recreational and commercial fishing. While effective for fishing, it becomes a serious environmental hazard when improperly discarded.

Because monofilament does not biodegrade, it can remain in waterways for hundreds of years.

Environmental impacts of discarded fishing line:

• Entanglement of manatees and marine mammals
• Injury or death of sea turtles, birds, and fish
• “Ghost fishing,” where lost gear continues to trap wildlife
• Damage to boat propellers and marine equipment
• Long-term plastic pollution in Florida waterways

Find a Monofilament Recycling Bin Near You

Use the official Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) tool to locate monofilament recycling bins across Florida:

👉 https://mrrp.myfwc.com/bin-locations/

This interactive map helps you search for recycling bin locations by county, region, or proximity to fishing areas.

How Monofilament Recycling Works in Florida

Florida’s Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program (MRRP), managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), provides designated recycling bins across the state.

These bins are commonly located at:

• Fishing piers
• Boat ramps
• Marinas
• Parks and coastal access points
• Tackle shops and bait stores

Collected fishing line is recycled into new products such as plastic lumber, benches, and other durable materials.

Why This Matters for Manatee Conservation

Reducing monofilament pollution directly supports manatee rescue and rehabilitation efforts. Fishing line entanglement is a preventable threat, and proper disposal is one of the simplest ways the public can contribute to marine conservation in Florida.

Every properly recycled line helps:

• Reduce manatee injuries and rescues
• Protect seagrass habitats and marine biodiversity
• Improve waterway safety and cleanliness

Support DRC’s Manatee Rescue Efforts