During the last days of his governorship, Clinton Tyree had lobbied for a somewhat tougher law. His version would have required anyone who killed a manatee to immediately forfeit his boat {no matter how luxurious} and pay a ten-thousand dollar fine or go to jail for forty-five days. The Tyree Amendment would have also required the manatee killer to bury the dead animal himself, at a public ceremony. Not surprisingly, the governor's proposal was quietly rejected.
During his final days as governor, Clinton Tyree pushed for a stricter law targeting manatee killers. His proposed amendment mandated that anyone who killed a manatee must immediately forfeit their boat, regardless of its luxury, and face a $10,000 fine or 45 days in jail. The law also required the offender to personally bury the dead manatee during a public ceremony, highlighting its symbolic importance.
The proposal was met with silent rejection, reflecting perhaps the unpopularity or impracticality of such strict measures. This effort by Tyree demonstrates his strong stance on protecting endangered species, even if the legislation was ultimately not adopted.
