Manatee Sanctuary

A manatee sanctuary is a protected area established to safeguard manatees, large herbivorous sirenians, from boat strikes, harassment, and habitat loss. In the United States, Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge in Kings Bay, Florida, created in 1983, was the first refuge established specifically for the West Indian manatee (Florida subspecies). It enforces seven seasonal warm-water sanctuaries from 15 November to 31 March, when over 600 manatees aggregate at the springs. The Kings Bay Manatee Refuge designation in 2012 extended protection. Manatees are protected under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, with speed zones limiting vessel strikes.