1966 Federal Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966 (P.L. 89-669; 80 Stat. 926) – listed manatees as an endangered species

1967 –  Federal efforts toward manatee protection began on March 11, 1967, shortly after the Federal Endangered Species Preservation Act was passed.

The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service listed the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) as endangered throughout its range.

Graduate student Daniel “Woody” Hartman, assisted by James “Buddy” Powell conducted the first in-depth study of manatees in the wild at Crystal River, Florida.  Hartman completed his dissertation in 1971.

1968 – Hartman and Powell proposed to Citrus County and the Florida Department of Natural Resources to have Crystal River declared a manatee sanctuary.  The county thought it would interfere with tourism (sport and commercial fishing) and did not support the proposal.

1969 – Federal Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969 (P.L. 92-153; 83 Stat. 275) – regulated importation of listed species.  Act supersedes the 1966 Act.

A male manatee, nicknamed "Sewer Sam," was rescued from a 33-inch sewer pipe that ran under a Miami highway—for two years he was rehabilitated at the Miami Seaquarium by Dr. Jesse White and colleagues.

Tampa Electric Company (TECO) Big Bend power plant begins operation.

1971 – Jacques Cousteau and crew assisted with the release of Sewer Sam in Three Sisters Spring (Citrus County) and filmed the manatees in Crystal River and at Blue Spring to document their plight. Cousteau hired Hartman and Powell as advisors. The documentary, "The Forgotten Mermaids" helped educate people about manatees and the threats to their survival.

1972 – Federal Marine Mammal Protection Act (P.L. 92-522; 80 Stat. 027)– Manatee designated as a marine mammal. Act prohibits taking any marine mammal. Fine for violating act – up to $20,000 and/or one year in jail.

Hartman returned to Crystal River to conduct a survey on the distribution and status of the manatees in the southeastern United States.

1973 – Federal Endangered Species Act (P.L. 94-359; 90 Stat. 9-5)– superseded the 1969 act and increased federal protection of manatees. Act made it a violation to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, capture, or collect endangered species. Authorized cooperative agreements between states and the federal government with funding management, research and law enforcement

1974 – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established the Sirenia Project based in Gainesville, Florida, to document photo-identification and life histories of manatees, and created the manatee carcass salvage and rescue program in south Florida.

The Marine Mammal Commission was formed under Title II of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.

Freshwater Fish and Wildlife, Wildlife Code of the State of Florida, Rule 16E-3 – first listed manatees as a Threatened Species in Florida

1975 – Miami Seaquarium – first manatee conceived and born in captivity. 
The park later had other manatees bred in captivity for display purposes.

 

The manatee, also commonly known as the sea cow, is designated the Florida state marine mammal.

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