Southwest Florida boaters might want to be on their best behavior this weekend. 30 Florida Fish and Wildlife officers will hit the water to raise awareness of speed zones designed to protect the endangered Florida Manatee. They’ll be joined by members of the ‘Lee County Marine Law Enforcement Task Force’…made up of various state, regional and local agencies. FWC spokesman - Gary Morse – calls the effort ‘massive’.

“If you’re a boater on the water you’re going to see somebody out there from our Lee County Marine Task Force…and there’s a good chance you’re going to get stopped. And even if you’re not speeding they’re probably going to do a safety check.”

More manatees die from boat collisions in southwest Florida waters than anywhere else in the state…with 11 last year and 9 since January. The FWC recently recommended manatees be down-listed from endangered to threatened on the state level.