Manatee protection rules are established by the State of Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC) to restrict the speed and operation of vessels where necessary, to protect manatees from harmful collisions with vessels and from harassment.

In areas that are especially important to manatees, the rules can prohibit or limit entry into an area, as well as restrict what activities can be performed in the area. FWC is authorized to adopt these rules by the Manatee Sanctuary Act (370.12(2), Florida Statutes. The rules appear in Chapter 68C-22 of the Florida Administrative Code (FAC).

Sarasota County Manatee Protection Rule
Sarasota County manatee protection rule (68C-22.026 FAC) The existing rule was amended as follows:

• The eastern boundary of the existing Slow Speed zone in the vicinity of City Island was moved westward to a line between the northwestern end of Bird Key and the eastern end of City Island.
• The currently unregulated area northeast of Pansy Bayou was changed to a Slow Speed zone.
• The Sarasota County Commission agreed that a variance would be possible to allow a local water ski group, the Sarasota Ski-A-Rees, to continue to use this area.
• The amendments also created a winter season (Nov. 15 - March 15) No Entry Zone in a section of Salt Creek and Warm Mineral Springs north of U.S. Highway 41.

Counties with Manatee Protection Rules
Manatee protection rules have been established and may differ in each of the counties listed:

• Brevard
• Broward
• Citrus (Parts of Levy and Hernando)
• Collier
• Dade
• Duval (Parts of Clay and St. Johns)
• Hillsborough
• Indian River
• Lee
• Martin
• Palm Beach
• Sarasota (Parts of Manatee and Charlotte)
• St. Lucie
• Volusia (Parts of Putnam, Lake, Seminole and Flagler)