Manatee network pushes Ala. plates

DAUPHIN ISLAND, Ala. - The Dauphin Island Sea Lab's Manatee Sighting Network is making a final push to secure a specialized license plate for motorized vehicles in Alabama. The effort is about 150 commitments away from the specialized plate becoming reality. Revenue from the specialized plates will be used to support the Manatee Sighting Network's outreach and education, research, tagged manatee program and data sharing. One of the more interesting things the network has learned, since tagging manatees in 2009, is that the “same manatees come back to Alabama waters each year," said Elizabeth Hieb, Manatee Sighting Network manager. This is the time of year manatees migrate to the northern Gulf of Mexico, and Hieb encourages boaters to keep an eye out, and report sightings to the network 24/7. (Source: Dauphin Island Sea Lab 04/27/16).