The above activities are discussed in greater detail in 

 previous Annual Reports. The following describes actions taken 

 by the Commission and others in 1989 to further strengthen 

 cooperative manatee recovery efforts. 



West Indian Manatee Recovery Plan and Recovery Team 



A Recovery Plan for West Indian manatees was initially 

 completed and adopted by the Fish and Wildlife Service in 1980. 

 Because of new information developed early in the 1980s and the 

 difficulty in resolving the critical issues confronting manatees 

 in Florida, the Commission recommended in 1987 that the plan be 

 updated and that a manatee recovery team be reconstituted to 

 assist in that process. The Service agreed and, in 1988, a new 

 team was convened. It included representatives of Federal and 

 State agencies and public and private groups whose involvement in 

 implementing plan provisions would be essential. With the Team's 

 help, the Service completed a Revised Draft Plan that was 

 circulated for review and comment in October 1988. 



The Revised Plan was very well done and, by letter of 9 

 December 1988, the Commission commended the Service and the 

 Recovery Team for its careful and thorough work. The Revised 

 Plan integrated the earlier Recovery Plan and Comprehensive Work 

 Plan into one document and did an excellent job of identifying 

 manatee research and management priorities and responsibilities. 

 By letters of 13 and 15 June 1989, the Commission received a copy 

 of the Final Revised Florida Manatee Recovery Plan. Because its 

 provisions required commitments by the Commission and others to 

 help carry out various tasks, the Service asked the principal 

 agencies and organizations to concur with and sign the plan. 



On 21 June 1989, the Commission responded to the Service 

 noting it was pleased to concur with the plan's provisions and to 

 sign the document. The Final Plan was approved by the Regional 

 Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service on 24 July 1989. In 

 addition to the Commission, the following agencies provided their 

 concurrence and signed the Final Plan: the Army Corps of 

 Engineers; the Florida Department of Natural Resources; the 

 Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission; the Georgia 

 Department of Natural Resources; the Florida Department of 

 Environmental Regulation; the Florida Department of Community 

 Affairs; the Marine Industries Association of Florida; the Save 

 the Manatee Club; the Sierra Club; Sea World Enterprises; and the 

 Florida Power & Light Company. 



The Revised Recovery Plan identified more than 70 tasks 

 needed to help recover manatees in Florida. Key provisions 

 included tasks to: define manatee habitat use patterns and key 

 population parameters; identify areas where the probability of 

 manatees being struck by boats was greatest and implement site- 

 specific protection measures to reduce vessel-related threats; 



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