Ecotourism in South Florida Essay Example

at risk of survival. Another major threat they encounter is the risk of collisions with power boats. These threats, specifically caused by humans using boats to observe manatees in the water, pose the greatest danger to their well-being (Miller 104).

The noise is confusing to manatees, increasing the chance of collisions with boats. This poses a significant challenge to their survival. Humans continue to present challenges to manatee survival. The construction of houses along the coast for development has more negative effects than positive ones.

The destruction of the manatees' habitat is caused by humans who want to stay near these animals (Rossen 40). The estuarine sea grass is affected, leading to the impairment of the manatees' immune systems. Consequently, these mammals become more susceptible to diseases and infections. The crowded conditions at Three Sisters' Springs, where manatees are an endangered species, have a negative impact on the population, individual animals, and the species as a whole. Tourists at this site are often unsupervised by any federal or state authority.

Despite not being assured of total protection, manatees are frequently harassed as shown in disturbing videos. Humans who have swam with manatees have observed that these animals seek human interaction but also require space and time to seek comfort on their own terms (Miller 75). Therefore, a proper and respectful interaction with manatees is one way to conserve them. However, activities like swimming and kayaking that involve humans and manatees can have negative impacts and results.

During peak seasons, there is a high presence of bots in the water. Some of these bots are rented by families, while others are operated by tour companies. The activities of humans

during this season result in drowning incidents in water bodies like dams, as well as entanglement in spill away nets and boat strikes (Walker 64). The frequency of boat strikes can be observed through the prop scars on the flukes and backs of manatees. Manatees are slow creatures that primarily inhabit shallow waters to avoid collisions with boats. In conclusion, ecotourism has a greater negative impact on the population of manatees compared to its positive effects.

The decline in mammal population is caused by ecotourism, which entails constructing coastal homes that disrupt the habitat of manatees. Additionally, nearby inhabitants subject these manatees to harassment (Rossen 88). Furthermore, the utilization of boats by ecotourists has adverse effects on the manatees since collisions with boats ultimately result in their demise.

In summary, the negative effects of ecotourism may outweigh the positive ones, indicating that it might not be the most effective approach to saving the manatees.

Work Cited

• Walker, John R. The Restaurant: From Concept to Operation. Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley & Sons, 2008. Internet resource.
• Miller, G T, and Scott Spoolman. Essentials of Ecology. Australia: National Geographic Learning, 2015. Print
• Miller, G T, and Scott Spoolman. Environmental Science. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning, 2010. Print.
• Rosen,
  Rudolph A. Texas Aquatic Science., 2015.Print.