Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final action to establish two additional Manatee Protection Areas in Florida.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), take final action to establish two additional manatee protection areas in Florida. This action is authorized under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (ESA), and the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361-1407) (MMPA), to further recovery of the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) through a reduction in the level of take. In evaluating the need for additional manatee protection areas, we considered the needs of the manatee at an ecosystem level with the goal of ensuring that adequate protected areas are available throughout peninsular Florida to satisfy the biological requirements of the species, with a view toward the manatee's recovery. We are establishing two manatee refuges in Brevard County, in which certain waterborne activities will be restricted. These two sites are located within the water bodies commonly known as the Barge Canal and Sykes Creek. Watercraft operating within these water bodies will be required to proceed at "slow speed" throughout the year.