Abstract of Thesis Presented to the Graduate School
 of the University of Florida in Partial Fulfillment of the
 Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts

 A QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION OF A
 BOATER EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR MANATEE PROTECTION

 By

 Julie Morris

 May 2004

Chairman: Susan K. Jacobson
Major Department: Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

 Watercraft collisions are the most common human related causes of manatee

mortaility, and account for approximately 25% to 30% of manatee deaths annually.

Educational interventions for boaters are one strategy for reducing watercraft collisions.

This study provides a quantitative evaluation of an educational intervention by Manatee

Watch in Tampa Bay, Florida. A telephone survey was conducted during July to August

2002, of primary boat users whose boats were observed by the Florida Marine Research

Institute and/or approached by Manatee Watch in Tampa Bay during 1999 to 2001. We

compared the attitudes, knowledge and behavioral intentions of boaters who had received

educational materials from Manatee Watch (treatment group) with boaters who had not

(control group).

 Survey questions were designed based on Manatee Watch educational materials

given to boaters and previous surveys of Florida boaters. Overall knowledge and attitude

scores were compared. Boaters receiving the educational treatment averaged 8.22

(S.D.=2.4) on a 12-point knowledge scale; this did not differ statistically from the control

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