West Indian Manatee Observer

Course description for visitors

This material is for training purposes only. It is to be used to assist the student with learning about the West Indian Manatee, it’s behaviors, dangers relative to the Manatee, how to gain experience observing manatees, what is expected of Manatee Observers on Government Construction Projects and permit requirements. This course is not intended as a substitute for the experience needed to be a Manatee Observer.

The West Indian Manatee Observer course complies with current regulations and  Environmental requirements for being a Qualified Manatee Observer. The West Indian manatee is one of the most endangered marine mammals in coastal waters of the United States. This group includes a separate subspecies called the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) that appears to be divided into at least two somewhat isolated subpopulations-one along the Atlantic coast and the other on the Florida Gulf of Mexico coast.