Dolphin Research Center Inc

AS THE ONLY NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION LICENSED TO ASSESS AND RESCUE MANATEES IN THE FLORIDA KEYS OUR TEAM CURRENTLY RELIES ON FLORIDA FWC TO BRING THEIR MANATEE RESCUE BOAT FROM 200 MILES AWAY FOR ON WATER MANATEE RESCUES. OUR GOAL WITH THIS PROPOSAL IS TO IMPROVE OUR MANATEE RESCUE TEAM RESPONSE TIMES AND OUTCOMES WHEN DEPLOYING OUR TEAM TO ASSESS TREAT AND IF NECESSARY TRANSPORT INJURED SICK OR ENTANGLED MANATEES. IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL WE PROPOSE TO PURCHASE A SPECIALLY DESIGNED AND OUTFITTED MANATEE RESCUE BOAT MOTOR AND TRAILER. THE COMPLETE SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE BOAT MOTOR TRAILER AND RIGGING HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO US BY OUR COOPERATORS AT FLORIDA FWC SINCE THEY POSSESS CRITICAL EXPERTISE WITH DESIGNING AND UTILIZING THEIR RESCUE BOATS FOR DECADES. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED IN THIS PROJECT WILL BE PURCHASE OF THE BOAT MOTOR TRAILER SAFETY AND OPERATIONAL EQUIPMENT UTILIZATION OF THE RESCUE BOAT FOR MANATEE RESCUES AND RELEASES IN THE FLORIDA KEYS COMPILING AND UPDATING RESCUE DATA TO BE PROVIDED TO STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES CONDUCTING RESCUE TRAINING SESSIONS USING THE RESCUE BOAT PREPARING AND SUBMITTING PROGRESS AND FINAL REPORTS. THIS PROJECT ADDRESSES PRESCOTT GRANT PROGRAM CATEGORY B AND WEST INDIAN MANATEE FLORIDA SUBSPECIES SPECIFIC FUNDING PRIORITY 1 BY SATISFYING A REGIONAL RESCUE RESOURCE GAP BY PROVIDING FOR A MANATEE RESCUE BOAT OUTFITTED WITH APPROPRIATE SAFETY AND OPERATIONAL EQUIPMENT TO ENSURE RAPID DEPLOYMENT FOR MANATEE RESCUES AND IMPROVED OUTCOMES FOR MANATEES IN DISTRESS IN THE FLORIDA KEYS.