23

public education (t = 0.445, df = 406, p = 0.657); or for those that were willing to pay for

increased patrols (t 0.009, df= 296,p = 0.993).

 More control group boaters thought that speed limits were adequately signed

(mean = 3.39) than treatment group boaters (mean = 3.12; t = 2.47, df= 482, p = 0.01).

 Another open-ended question asked boaters what caused boat-related manatee

deaths. Boater carelessness (Treatment: 41%, Control 34%) was the most common

answer given; there were no significant differences between the groups in the answers

given (X2 = 3.5, df= 5, p = 0.63, Table 16).

Table 16. Responses to the question, "Why are there boat related manateedeaths?"
 Treatment Control
 Group Group
 Why are there boat related deaths (%) (%0) N
 Manatees get in the way/can't get out of the way 11.8 14.2 65
 Boaters are careless/carelessness 41.0 34.9 180
 Lack of propeller guards 7.2 8.5 39
 Lack of boating regulations 2.6 1.4 9
 Speeding 13.3 12.8 62
 Other 24.1 28.1 127
 XA=3.5, df=5, p=0.63

 Additional Analysis of Treatment Group Boaters

 We additionally compared responses among boaters receiving the educational

treatment in 1999, 2000, and 2001. Knowledge scores (F = 0.262, p =.770) and attitude

scores (F = 0.325, p = .723) did not differ based on the year boaters received educational

materials.

 Three behavior items were also compared for boaters receiving the educational

treatment in 1999, 2000, or 2001; carrying nautical charts while boating (F = 0.040,

p = 0.961), nor for maintaining a slower speed while boating in shallow water (F = 0.022,

p = 0. 978) or for watching out for manatees while boating in shallow water (F = 0.381,

p =0.684).