JOINT U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE AND FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION NEWS RELEASE: Habitual Manatee Zone Violator Sentenced for Killing a Manatee in Brevard County, Florida

A Merritt Island man, who has been repeatedly cited for violating Manatee Protection Speed Zones in Brevard and Volusia Counties, was sentenced in federal court today for killing a West Indian manatee while operating his boat in violation of a manatee protection zone.

After an extensive joint investigation by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Joseph F. Miata Jr., 62, was criminally charged by the United States Attorney’s Office, Orlando Division, in October 2010 for killing a manatee and violating the federal Endangered Species Act.