ORLANDO, Fla. — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s announced that its 2022-23 manatee and sea turtle decals are now available.
According to a news release, these waterproof stickers are “colorfully illustrated and look right at home on watercraft, car bumpers or anywhere you want to show your support for these native species.”
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New decal designs are released each July and can be purchased with a $5 donation when you register or re-register a vehicle or boat at local tax collector’s office.
The funds raised go directly toward supporting research, rescue and management efforts for manatees and sea turtles.
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This year’s decal themes bring additional attention to specific conservation issues:
“Manatees in Motion” provides a reminder that manatees travel throughout Florida’s waterways and move between freshwater rivers and springs, brackish waters and coastal salt waters.
If you see evidence of a nearby manatee while boating, such as the signature round “manatee footprint” water plume, slow your vessel or shut off your engine until you can locate it and move to a safe distance.
“A Generation of Protection” highlights the many years of obstacles turtles face on their journey from hatchlings to mature adults with nests of their own, a process that can take 20 to 30 years.
Lights on a nesting beach, motorized watercraft and marine debris can all negatively impact turtle lifecycles.
This year’s manatee decal also helpfully displays the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922), where you can report an injured, entangled, or sick manatee or sea turtle.
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Learn more about how to help conserve manatees and sea turtles at MyFWC.com/Manatee and MyFWC.com/SeaTurtle, where you can also purchase past decal versions to improve your collection.
The release adds: “Another way to show support for these species is by purchasing a ‘Save the Manatee’ or a ‘Helping Sea Turtles Survive’ license plate at your local Tax Collector’s office.”
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