Rare Manatee Stuns Belmar, NJ With Once In A Lifetime Sighting

What's the coolest thing you've seen near the Jersey Shore?

I went out on the Miss Barnegat Light a few years ago to do some deep-sea fishing, and we ended up seeing tons of whales breaking the water just a few feet from the boat, and I always thought that was the coolest thing ever.

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This past weekend, the shore got a pretty rare visitor, and it's a sight that people will likely be talking about for a while.

According to News 12, a Manatee was spotted swimming in the Shark River in Belmar!

How Rare Are Manatee Sightings at the Jersey Shore?

This is only the 5th manatee to be spotted at the Jersey shore since the 70's, according to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine.

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Video captured, seen below, shows the 7 to 8-foot manatee swimming in a lagoon behind someone's home in the Shark River.

Some people believe it may be the same manatee that was seen swimming in the waters of Massachusetts earlier this year.

Why Manatees Face Danger in NJ Waters

The biggest concern when a manatee is seen in our waters at the Jersey Shore is boats.

Manatees are slow, gentle creatures, and sadly, being hit by boats is one of the leading causes of death for these adorable and curious creatures.

Marine Mammal Stranding Center Monitoring the Manatee

As of now, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center is keeping an eye on the manatee and monitoring its location.

If the water temperatures begin to cool, and the manatee doesn't seem to make its way south, then the MMSC will send in a relocation team to get the manatee to safer temperature water.