Friday, May 15, is Endangered Species Day, celebrating the preservation of imperiled species.

Many such species live on Anna Maria Island and in its waters, including manatees, snowy plovers, loggerhead sea turtles and gopher tortoises, which are benefiting from the 40-year-old federal Endangered Species Act and state protections.

Next month, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is expected to release a draft of its Imperiled Species Management Plan. The FWC has previously recommended that 16 species be removed from the imperiled list – three threatened species and 13 species of special concern – including the brown pelican, the snowy egret and the white ibis, all found on the Island.

The others are the alligator snapping turtle, Florida black bear, Florida mouse, Florida tree snail, gopher frog, Lake Eustis pupfish, limpkin, Peninsula ribbon snake, Pine Barrens treefrog, red rat snake, rivulus, striped mud turtle and Suwannee cooter.

The species are being recommended for delisting because scientists determined they are not at high risk of extinction, according to the FWC.

They recommended that 40 other species remain listed as threatened, including the American oystercatcher, black skimmer, least tern, little blue heron, roseate spoonbill and snowy plover, all found on the Island.

Before any species is delisted, the public will have an opportunity to comment on the management plan after the draft version is released in June.

Meanwhile, head outside on Friday, try to spot an imperiled species on the Island, and enjoy.