The maximum penalty for harassing, hunting, capturing, or killing any marine mammal such as a manatee varies depending on whether the violation is under state or federal law:
- Under Florida state law , the maximum penalty is a fine of up to $500 and/or imprisonment for up to 60 days
- Under federal law , including the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the maximum penalty can be a fine of up to $50,000 to $100,000 and/or imprisonment for up to one year
Violating these laws by harassing, harming, hunting, capturing, or killing manatees is illegal, and "harassment" includes any act that disrupts the manatee's normal behavior such as breeding, feeding, or sheltering
. The state of Florida can also pursue federal prosecution in cases of extreme harassment causing injury or death to a manatee
. In summary:
Jurisdiction| Maximum Fine| Maximum Imprisonment
---|---|---
Florida State| $500| 60 days
Federal| $50,000 to $100,000| 1 year
These protections are enforced to help conserve and protect the endangered manatee population in Florida waters
