AVAILABILITY OF DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at its June 2006 meeting determined that reclassifying the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) from endangered status to threatened status was warranted, and directed the development of a management plan. Reclassification will not occur until the reclassification rules in the proposed plan are approved by the Commission. A draft management plan for the Florida manatee has been prepared, and the Commission is now requesting written comments regarding conservation recommendations and expected economic, social, environmental and ecological impacts of implementing the management plan. Copies of the draft management plan are available at http://www.myfwc.com or can be requested from Manatee Management Plan, 620 South Meridian Street, Mail Station 6A, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600.

Written comments should be addressed to the above address, or submitted to the following email address: manatee_plan@ myFWC.com. Comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m., January 11, 2007.