Know Your Waterways and Manatee Protection Zones
Updated January 2026
As we’ve reported in previous posts, 2021 and 2022 were not good years for manatees. There were 1,100 statewide manatee deaths in 2021 (up from 637 in 2020), and 800 in 2022. The manatee’s primary source of food is seagrass and it was suspected that many manatees on the Atlantic Coast starved due to a limited supply of seagrass. This lowered supply of the manatee’s natural food source is due in part to nitrogen pollution. In order to stave off repeats of these tragic years, Florida officials provided supplemental feeding for the first time.
Good News! The good news is that mortality rates were down to a total of 555 deaths in 2023 and 565 in 2024. These counts are well below the average of 731 in recent years. This is a dramatic recovery and the lowest rates since 2017 when 538 deaths were reported. More good news – In March of 2025 the Unusual Mortality Event (UME) from starvation due to seagrass loss affecting manatees along the East Coast of Florida was closed. Seagrass is slowly recovering and manatees on the Atlantic coast appear to be in better physical condition!
While mortality was still below average in 2025, manatee deaths totaled 632 for the year. The increased mortality in 2025 was attributed to a colder winter, red tide bloom, and unfortunately more collisions with watercraft. 25% of all manatee deaths in 2025 (98 cases) were caused by watercraft.
Boaters, read more below to learn how to do your part
In 2017 the Florida manatee was reclassified from an endangered to a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act, but manatees still face the same threats as always and their future remains uncertain. The largest known cause for manatee deaths is still collision with watercraft and that problem is likely to increase as more people move to Florida and our waterways become more crowded. Understanding your local waterways and knowing the manatee protection zones is key to saving our official state marine mammal.
Always Be On The Lookout
Boaters should always be on the lookout for manatees, especially in protection zones during manatee season when manatees can be anywhere just below the surface. Their primary habitat in Broward County is within our inland waterways including the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and its connected rivers, bays and canals. However, it is not unusual to see manatees out in the ocean off Broward County beaches. Boaters are advised to wear polarized glasses and always be scanning for manatees, especially between November 15th and March 31st, which is manatee season in Broward County. If you boat in other parts of the state please check local protections zones and season dates since they vary throughout the state of Florida.
Pay Attention to Waterway Signage
Our inland waterways in the Fort Lauderdale area are well marked, but you still need to pay attention to the waterway signage since it can change during manatee season. Some zones remain in place year round while others change from November 15th to March 31st. Since weekends and holidays from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM are the busiest times on the water some protection zones are more restricted during these times. See the Broward County maps below for Protection Areas in our coastal towns including Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Hillsboro Beach, Lighthouse Point and Deerfield Beach. Click here for more information on signs and tips for protecting manatees.
Broward County Manatee Protection Areas and Boating Restricted Areas
UPDATE: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved a new year-round slow speed zone on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) between Oakland Park Boulevard and Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. The change will go into effect in February of 2026.
While boating restrictions on our inland waterways are in place year round, boaters need to pay close attention to our manatee protection and boating restricted areas during the winter months, specifically during manatee season from November 15th to March 31st. The map below shows slow and idle speed zones year round, as well as special slow speed zones during manatee season. Click the map image to view and download the entire Broward County map.
