Watch: Sharks, Manatees Swim Together

APOLLO BEACH, FL — With temperatures in the Tampa Bay area dipping into the near-freezing range, manatees are once again flocking to the TECO Big Bend Power Station discharge canal to escape the chill.

They’re not alone.

It seems a rather sizeable group of sharks also prefers the canal’s warmer waters. ABC Action News discovered that during a recent flyover. The trip was intended to capture manatees in the area on video, the station explained on its Facebook page. Those sent to film congregating manatees didn’t expect to also spot “a very, very large herd of sharks” swimming in the warmer waters.

The Big Bend Power Station’s discharge canal has been attracting large groups of manatees in colder months for years. The discharge is nothing more than saltwater that’s taken from Tampa Bay and used to cool the station’s equipment, before its put back – clean and warm – into the Bay, TECO explains on its website.

See Also:

• Tampa Bay’s Manatee Viewing Center: What to Know Before You Go
• Feds Pitch Downgraded Manatee Protections
• Manatee Confab Breaks Records

Realizing that manatee began flocking to the area whenever Tampa Bay waters reached 68 degrees or colder, TECO opened its Manatee Viewing Center to the public.

“Today, Big Bend’s discharge canal is a state and federally designated manatee sanctuary that provides critical protection from the cold for these unique, gentle animals,” TECO said.

The center includes an observation area where visitors can look at manatees in the wild. It also has an environmental education center where visitors can learn more about the gentle giants.

Located at 6990 Dickman Road in Apollo Beach, the viewing center is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Nov. 1 to April 15 each year. It does close down for some holidays. Admission and parking are both free.

To learn more, visit TECO online.

Photo courtesy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission