U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services to issue final designations of manatee refuges and sanctuaries by November 1. Under a settlement agreement with Save the Manatee Club and other Conservation groups, the Fish and Wildlife Services agreed to issue a final declaration of new manatee refuges and sanctuaries by September 28, 2001. The Fish and Wildlife Services said it would enforce two of the zones in Brevard County and put off any decisions on the rest until December of this year. Sullivan ruled on July 9 that the wildlife service violated the agreement. Each of the past five years has recorded ever-increasing manatee deaths which are at a record high of 73 so far for the year, 22 more than recorded last year. Despite pleas from environmentalists, federal officials refused to create new emergency manatee protection zones in areas considered critical for the endangered manatees. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan ordered the two sides to establish emergency zones statewide and also required federal officials to explain why Interior Secretary Gale Norton shouldn’t be found in contempt of court for violating the original settlement.
   The areas being considered for protection are: Lemon Bay, Turtle Bay and Peace River in Charlotte County; Terra Ceia Bay in Manatee County; Alafia River in Hillsborough County; Jungle Trail Narrows Area in Indian River County; Pansy Bayou Area and Warm Mineral Springs in Sarasota County; and Blue Waters Area of the Homosassa River in Citrus County. Fourteen sanctuaries and refuges are set to be created by Nov.1. Refuges usually have boat speed limits. Sanctuaries limit boat entry to areas seasonally but still allo