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In 1983, these efforts on behalf of manatees as well as 

 contributions in other areas were officially recognized by 

 the Secretary of the Interior, who presented a special 

 citation for conservation service to Florida Power and Light 

 Company. The Marine Mammal Commission joined with the 

 Secretary of the Interior and others in recognizing and 

 applauding the major contributions that continue to be made 

 by the Company. 



Despite the progress being made to address sources of 

 human-caused injury and mortality, other serious problems 

 must also be faced. A major one is the increasing loss of 

 undisturbed manatee habitat as a result of coastal development, 

 Although habitat protection is identified as a number one 

 priority need in the West Indian Manatee Recovery Plan, 

 progress in this area has been slow. 



One encouraging step in 1983 involved acquisition of 

 areas including and immediately adjacent to essential manatee 

 habitat in northwest Florida. As was discussed in the 

 previous Annual Report, in 1982, the Nature Conservancy 

 raised more than $400,000 to purchase 14 islands in the 

 King's Bay area of the Crystal River. In 198 3, the Nature 

 Conservancy sold the islands at cost to the Fish and Wildlife 

 Service for incorporation into its National Wildlife Refuge 

 System and then announced plans to reinvest the more than 

 $400,000 for acquisition of additional areas of important 

 manatee habitat in the lower Suwannee River area. 



Other areas may merit similar protection and in 1982, 

 the Commission's Committee of Scientific Advisors' Manatee 

 Working Group started a study to identify and assess the 

 protection needs of such areas. The Group's preliminary 

 findings identify several undeveloped areas in northwest 

 Florida meriting additional or special protection. The 

 final report is expected to be completed in 1984. 



As described in previous Annual Reports, in 1980, the 

 Commission provided funding to assist the Fish and Wildlife 

 Service in developing a plan to identify and coordinate 

 research and management priorities for the relatively 

 discrete manatee subpopulation in the Crystal River area and 

 to serve as a model for developing similar area-specific 

 plans for other manatee subpopulations . In 1983, the 

 Commission, in consultation with its Committee of Scientific 

 Advisors, carefully reviewed and commented on drafts of 

 various parts of the research and management plan, the final 

 draft of which is expected to be submitted to the Fish and 

 Wildlife Service for approval in 1984. The Commission will 

 continue to assist with the development and implementation 

 of this and other needed plans. 



