Thirty years after starting the Save the Manatees Club in Florida with former Senator and Governor Bob Graham, Jimmy Buffett has reversed his position on manatees:

The Gulf Coast’s favorite son Jimmy Buffett may be a favorite no more after he announced Thursday that he no longer believes in the plight of the Florida manatee.

“The Florida manatee population is at record levels,” Buffett said in a phone interview from his home on St. Bart’s. “They are no longer endangered, and in fact they are becoming so numerous that they are now a nuisance to Florida boaters and fishermen.”

The “Margaritaville” crooner is an avid boater and angler and spends a considerable of time in Florida waters.

Tom Manning of the US Fish and Wildlife Service disputes Buffett’s claims. “While it’s true that the West Indian Manatee is no longer classified as endangered, it’s still considered threatened. That means that the species is still considered very vulnerable to endangerment.”

Buffett’s partner in forming the club back in 1981, Senator Bob Graham, is shocked by the sudden change in Buffett’s position on manatees:

“Jimmy and I have worked together for thirty years on this,” former Senator Bob Graham said. “I am shocked and saddened that he would abandon our work and the work of many others just as the manatee population begins to recover. Maybe he hit his head a little harder than he thought down in Australia.”

Update – Yes this was indeed an April Fools joke 🙂 . Jimmy is just as committed as ever to saving the manatees. Learn how you can help at savethemanatee.org

Another StageIt video is available, this one posted on Margaritaville.com. It’s Jimmy performing “My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink, and I Don’t Love Jesus” from St. Barth’s, broadcast to the South By Southwest festival in Austin, TX.

Watch the other video we posted a week ago.

American cyclist Lance Armstrong sent a tweet out Sunday night saying that he was at Baz Bar on St. Barth’s when Jimmy took the stage:

Armstrong then tweeted a photo of Jimmy playing:

Jimmy and Lance are reportedly friends. In 2009, he invited Jimmy to ride in the Team Astrana car at the Tour de France. Read more here.

The LandShark Landing Beach Bar at the Margaritaville Beach Hotel will simulcast Jimmy Buffett’s first show of the year next month:

On Saturday, April 16th at 7:15pm LandShark Landing Beach Bar will show a live stream of Jimmy Buffett’s concert in Tampa! The concert will be shown on a special giant 20′ screen on the beach outside LandShark Landing. All guests are invited to bring chairs and blankets to sit on while they enjoy the concert. There will be preferred seating for guests staying at the Margaritaville Beach Hotel, as well as Parrothead Club members with a badge.

There will be pre- and post- concert entertainment by Captain Josh (3:30p.m. – 6: 30 p.m. and 10 p.m. – midnight), a beach cookout and drink specials! No outside coolers, food and/or drinks will be allowed.

Stay over at the Margaritaville Beach Hotel after the show broadcast! Reservations can be made online here.

The Woodlands, site of Jimmy Buffett’s concert in Houston, will again have special instructions for tailgating this year.

Official Jimmy Buffett Tailgating Lot

The parking lot located on the northeast corner of the Six Pines Drive and Lake Robbins Drive intersection has been designated as the Official Jimmy Buffett Tailgating Lot. This parking lot opens at 10 a.m. on May 5 and closes at midnight. Overnight parking is not permitted.

Tickets for this parking lot are now available for purchase at The Pavilion Box Office located at 2005 Lake Robbins Drive. With limited availability, parking tickets for this lot will be sold on a space-available basis. Parking tickets for this lot are $30 per vehicle or $100 for a bus, RV or other vehicle that occupies more than one space. If space is still available the day of the show, guests can purchase them at the entrance to the parking lot. Ticket sellers will not be equipped to accept checks or credit cards the day of the show. Only cash will be accepted.

In the Official Jimmy Buffett Tailgating Lot, live entertainment will be provided, along with restrooms, trash cans and recycling containers. Guests are asked to be “user friendly” by leaving glass containers and pets at home. Guests also are encouraged to drink responsibly.

Town Center Garage at The Pavilion

Concertgoers also can purchase parking tickets for the Town Center Garage, located at The Pavilion and accessed via Six Pines Drive. The garage opens at 3 p.m. Parking is $15 per vehicle based on availability. Please visit The Pavilion’s website (www.woodlandscenter.org) the day of the show for the latest parking information.

Free Parking in Designated Lots

Concertgoers also can park in any of the five free parking lots on the southwest side of The Pavilion. The free, color-coded lots are connected to The Pavilion by corresponding pathways with signs leading across The Waterway. These parking lots open at 6 p.m.

Please visit www.woodlandscenter.org for more information about parking, including a map showing all of the parking areas. Information about parking availability will be frequently updated on the website the day of the show.