Boat captains and boat handlers traversing the Belize River and the Haulover Creek, and in areas where manatees are known to frequent, are urged to be on the lookout for the animals because they are mating and an aggregation of them will be about.

The endangered species are protected by law, and the Fisheries Department and other agencies are pleading with boat operators to be very careful in order not to hit or kill the slow-moving manatees.

Jamal Galvez, Manatee Program Coordinator at the Coastal Zone, said that although manatees mate throughout the year, in summer, it is more pronounced. The female gets into heat, which attracts the male manatees that pursue her in aggregations of up to about 20 to 30.

In its effort to get away from the aggressive males, the female manatees move to the shoreline area, making them very vulnerable to boat propellers and people. The males sometimes chase her for up to two weeks until one of them gets the job done.

If any of the animals are seen injured, the Manatee Conservation should be alerted.