How is the new manatee refuge enforced?
A19: Manatee refuges are only effective to the extent that waterway resource users comply with posted regulations and established prohibited activities. As such, enforcement will continue to be an essential component of the effort. The Service, state, and other agency law enforcement officers will enforce the newly established manatee refuge. Non-federal officers will continue to be authorized to enforce federal manatee refuge regulations, just as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service law enforcement officers can and do enforce state manatee protection regulations. Enforcement around existing sanctuaries was increased over the past several years in response to public concerns over harassment, increased manatee use of Kings Bay, and increases in human activities. The Service believes these joint efforts contributed in part to an overall reduction in the number of complaints regarding harassment. This emergency establishment of a manatee refuge and the initiation of a proposed rulemaking furthe
