North Fort Myers residents push for expanded manatee protection zone

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. — Residents near a condo complex in North Fort Myers are advocating for an expansion of a manatee protection zone after a recent manatee rescue occurred just outside their harbor.

The complex is about a mile from Manatee Park, where manatees gather in warm waters during winter.

Roy Santoro, a local resident, enjoys kayaking and observing wildlife near the river by his home.

"This is my church. This is where I go to go out, I relax, and then you see all these amazing animals. You see turtles, manatees and dolphins," said Santoro.

Santoro expressed concerns about the speed of boats in the area.

"My biggest concern, I can understand how the manatees and the dolphins feel, because these boats go flying up and down the river," said Santoro.

Santoro noted that manatees are frequently seen in the area but lack adequate protection.

"They're up here a lot, and there's no protection for them here," said Santoro. "They just got these scars on their back. And I sadly see them kind of dead along the shoreline every once in a while."

Erwin Aupperle, another neighbor, shared similar concerns.

"The concern that we really have is the manatees. We need to be ahead. A clear example would be the injured manatees two days ago," said Aupperle.

Just days ago, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Lee County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) rescued a distressed manatee from the water near their neighborhood.

"The manatee boating zone ends exactly where the water comes out from the power plant, which is the same water that goes to Manatee Park to keep the manatees warm in the winter time," said Aupperle. "Extending it a half a mile from where it is and half a mile up, or maybe even three quarters mile up, but would definitely save a lot of injuries."

Santoro believes that extending the protection zone would provide peace of mind.

"Definitely extending it from where it is now up to 31 would be a big help. It's not going to solve the whole problem, but at least slow the boats down," said Santoro. "You want to go driving a car through somebody's living room at 100 miles an hour? Well, you probably shouldn't do the same thing out on the water because that's somebody's home."

The neighbors have reached out to the Coast Guard, but they were informed that they need to provide proof of manatees in the area.

"Coast Guard said, we have to prove that there are manatees here. And I think clearly, you know, we can, we show pictures of the marina. We can show pictures manatees in the river right in front of our property, as well as even further down," said Aupperle.

FWC evaluates manatee protection zones based on the number of manatees using the area, boat traffic, and water conditions. The review is then sent to the county for final consideration.

Santoro and his neighbors remain hopeful that extending the protection zone will make a positive difference for the local manatee population.