MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCSC) — A video of a boat running over a manatee in Shem Creek is circulating online.
A local boat captain who witnessed the incident says nearby kayakers attempted to warn the boater before the animal was struck.
What witnesses say happened
Mike Phillips, a 100-ton master boat captain who was on the water at the time, said kayakers crossed their paddles in an “X” to signal danger in the moments before the boat struck the manatee. He said multiple people also called out verbal warnings.
“This guy was given a lot of signals, X’s, people hollering, people on the dock hollering, me on a microphone,” Phillips said.
Phillips said two other vessels were holding their position behind his boat, where the video was filmed, and another boat traveling in the same direction had also held station.
“I noticed people had stopped; there were people on the dock up here, but this one boat just kept kind of going,” he said.
Phillips said he does not believe the incident was intentional.
“I don’t think that he purposely or maliciously did this, I think he was just busy paying attention to something else other than the surroundings,” he said.
Lauren Rust, executive director of the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network, said situational awareness on the water is critical. Federal guidelines advise boaters to remain at least 50 yards, or 150 feet, away from marine mammals.
“Your intent matters and also it’s not always possible, right? If you are in a really small creek, you can’t always stay 150 feet away. We suggest just slowing down, putting your boat in neutral if the animals are close or coming under your boat,” Rust said.
She said that caution is especially important in narrow waterways like Shem Creek.
“Dolphins and manatees love to go into the small creeks. They’re feeding there, they could be resting there, and it is shallower. As a boater, it’s really important to know that these marine mammals are hanging out in these shallow waters and they can’t always get away as easily,” Rust said.
Rust said she frequently spots dolphins injured in boating accidents. Phillips said near misses on Shem Creek are not uncommon.
“I was just so upset with how oblivious somebody could be in such a close-quarters area — a creek that is so trafficked and watched and so many boats in here,” Phillips said. “That’s what surprised me. It’s just how can you not be aware of your surroundings — whether it was a manatee, a person in the water, you have to be safe.”
What to do if you spot a manatee
It is unclear whether the manatee in the video was injured. Officials ask anyone who spots a manatee to report the sighting to the Department of Natural Resources. The Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network also offers wildlife awareness safety courses.
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