On Feb 24, 4:00*am, Wayne.B wrote:
On Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:46:35 -0800, "nom=de=plume"

wrote:
The manatees are listed as endangered by the ESA. There are thought to be
fewer than 2000. Even if they weren't, why not protect them, since they
can't outrun the boats or dive deep enough. Does it really threaten your
"freedom" to slow down and look where you're going? (Not you
specifically....)

This is probably an exercise in futility but I'll give it one try.
Manatees are listed as endangered only because of the high powered
lobbying efforts of the well funded Save The Manatee Club. STMC
members have donated millions of dollars and the club feels an
obligation to spend that money lobbying for new regulations, needed or
not. * Most places in South Florida have enough Manatees that they are
at risk of over breeding their habitat.

How would youfeel about a 5 mph speed limit on your local highway to
prevent the risk of road kill?

Something about that doesn't make sense to me. Manatees were in the
Florida waters long before boats. They didn't need boats killing them
off then to keep their numbers in check, why do they need boats to
keep the population in check now?