2 Florida counties filed intent to sue Federal Fish and Wildlife over new
manatee zones. The suit alleges the zones are unnecessarily restrictive to
local users and instituted based on unsound science.

Duval and St. Johns counties claim old boundaries worked they way they
were intended and draconian limits on the usage of the river are
unnecessary. "We will not waste any more time on fruitless and unproductive
dialog," states official.

The save the manatee club based in Maitland, FL, commented they have spent
thousands of dollars to prove the limits are absolutely required.

Dr. Carole DeMort, State Marine Biologist and Marine Biology Department
Chair for University of North Florida said " I can't imagine how the Save
The Manatee Club arrived at their scientific evaluation of the number of
manatees killed annually. Using their model, manatees became extinct 12
years ago." "The manatee has made a great recovery in the past 10 years.
Their numbers have grown from an perhaps 3000 in 1980 to an estimated 40,000
state wide. Their species status should be changed from endangered to
threatened." It is only natural, that with so many more creatures, more will
interact with boats and other portions of technology.





--
Capt. Frank

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