Manatee Sighting Network upgrades website to make reporting easier

DAUPHIN ISLAND, Ala. (WKRG) — We’re getting into the time of year when more manatees can be seen around the northern Gulf of Mexico. Members of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab are making it easier to tell them when you spot one.

Manatees are no longer endangered but they’re still considered a threatened species. The more information local scientists have the easier it is to track their health.

This year, we’ve already seen manatee sightings like these taken just last month along Dog River.
Earlier this season, the Manatee Sighting Network revamped its website. They made it easier for people using mobile browsers on phones and tablets to not only send in images but–and this is key—add precise GPS location on where images were taken. That increases the accuracy of their database and helps them track migration and health of the population.

“We wanted to have the most accurate location information. We could have. We wanted to make it more accessible to more people. And also, images are really important for us to verify behavior and we can also use a process called photo identification,” said Manager of the Manatee Sighting Network Elizabeth Hieb.

Manatees are a protected species so if you see one, keep your distance, at least 100 feet or more. They also recommend polarized sunglasses–they help you see a manatee that may be just below the surface and recommend having another person on the water with you to act as a spotter for marine life or any water hazards.

For more information on the sighting network and reporting click here.

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