current problems related to the West Indian manatee conser- 

 vation program and to recommend steps that should be taken to 

 strengthen it. The study is focused primarily on issues 

 related to: the process followed by Federal and State 

 agencies in authorizing dredge and fill permits and submerged 

 lands leases for new marinas and boating facilities in 

 essential manatee habitat areas; State and Federal efforts to 

 acquire and protect essential manatee habitat; expanding the 

 State's system of boat speed regulatory zones and the 

 adequacy of enforcement efforts therein; and funding for 

 essential research efforts. 



Although a final report is not expected until early in 

 1987, a draft was available at the end of 1986. It addressed 

 actions related to the administrative structure of the 

 manatee program, the management and acquisition of State and 

 Federal lands of special importance to manatees, modifying 

 and enforcing the system of boat speed regulatory zones, 

 public education, wetlands regulatory programs, and manatee 

 research. To improve overall administration of the manatee 

 program, the draft report recommends that: the Fish and 

 Wildlife Service re-establish the Manatee Recovery Team to 

 update the Recovery Plan and Comprehensive Work Plan 

 developed in 1980; the Florida Department of Natural 

 Resources upgrade its manatee protection program by creating 

 a new Bureau of Marine Mammals; and the State Manatee 

 Technical Advisory Council continue to serve as a forum for 

 coordinating Federal, State, and private activities. 



With respect to managing Federal and State-owned lands, 

 including submerged lands, of particular importance to 

 manatees, the draft recommended that: criteria for 

 protecting manatees be developed to guide issuance of state 

 submerged lands leases issued for marinas and other boating 

 facilities by the Florida Trustees of the Internal Improve- 

 ment Trust Fund; those lease applications be reviewed on a 

 semi-annual or quarterly basis to improve consideration of 

 cumulative impacts and coordinating leasing decisions with 

 the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Department of 

 Natural Resources; and the Fish and Wildlife Service and the 

 State of Florida increase efforts to plan for and pursue land 

 acquisition projects, such as the refuge headquarters/visitor 

 center on Kings Bay, in essential manatee habitat. 



To strengthen control over boat speeds in essential 

 habitat, the draft report recommends that: the Florida 

 Department of Natural Resources request more field officers 

 to enforce established boat speed regulatory zones; the 

 Department, in coordination with the Fish and Wildlife 

 Service, regularly review the system of boat speed zones to 

 identify new areas and, as appropriate, to modify boundaries 

 of existing zones; and the National Park Service establish 



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