More Manatees Killed in Boat Collisions in Just One Month

The Belize Fisheries Department is calling on vessel operators nationwide to exercise extreme caution following a troubling rise in manatee strandings recorded in February.

According to the Belize Marine Mammal Stranding Network, eight manatee strandings were documented last month in Corozal, Belize City, Placencia, Gales Point, and Hopkins. Of those cases, three were confirmed to have resulted from injuries consistent with vessel strikes.

On February 11, an adult female manatee was found in Belize City with injuries linked to a watercraft collision. Just days later, on February 14, another adult female was discovered in Hopkins with similar fatal injuries. On February 16, an adult male manatee was also recorded in Belize City, with authorities determining that a vessel strike was responsible.

Other strandings during the month included two male calves, one in Consejo Shores and another in Placencia. The Placencia calf’s death was attributed to perinatal causes, while the cause of stranding in Consejo Shores remains undetermined. Additional cases were recorded in Gales Point and Corozal involving adult manatees, along with another male calf in Gales Point. The causes in those incidents are still under investigation.

The Greater Caribbean manatee is fully protected under Belizean law. It is illegal to harm, harass, disturb, or kill manatees or any other marine mammal, with violations carrying significant fines and possible prosecution.

Authorities stress that vessel strikes remain one of the leading human-induced threats to manatees, particularly in shallow coastal waters, lagoons, river mouths, and seagrass beds where they feed and nurse their young.

The Fisheries Department is urging mariners to reduce speeds in designated manatee zones, strictly observe no-wake regulations, and maintain a constant lookout in known habitats, including Corozal, Belize City, Gales Point, Hopkins, Placencia, and surrounding lagoon systems.