MANATEE COUNTY – Following petitions from environmental groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) says that reclassifying Florida manatees from a threatened to an endangered species may be justified.
In 2017, the status of manatees was changed from endangered to threatened following signs the species was recovering. Since then, seagrass destruction related to algae blooms on Florida’s east coast has spiked manatee mortality.
“Originally listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1973, manatees have never truly recovered,” according to a prepared statement from the Center for Biological Diversity. “The FWS announced its final rule downlisting the West Indian manatee from endangered to threatened on March 30, 2017, despite hundreds of manatees still dying each year from boat strikes, habitat loss and other causes.”
The ESA defines a threatened species as “any species which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.”
An endangered species is “any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range,” according to the act.
Due to the declining manatee population in recent years, two petitions were submitted to FWS by the Center for Biological Diversity, Harvard Animal Law & Policy Clinic, Miami Waterkeeper, Save the Manatee Club and Frank S. Gonzalez Garcia to increase protections for the mammals.
“Pollution-fueled algae blooms sparked an ongoing mortality event that has contributed to unprecedented Florida manatee mortality approaching 2,000 deaths in 2021 and 2022 combined,” according to the Center for Biological Diversity. “This two-year record represents more than 20% of all manatees in Florida. Manatee experts predict more malnourished and starving manatees with fewer births for years to come.”
Unchecked pollution, wastewater treatment discharges, leaking septic systems, fertilizer runoff and resulting algae blooms and seagrass destruction led to the unprecedented manatee mortality event in the Indian River area in 2021-22.
As of Oct. 6, 476 known manatees died in Florida waters so far this year, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
One petition requested the reclassification of the West Indian manatee, including the Antillean and Florida manatee subspecies, as endangered species under the ESA. Another petition requested the Puerto Rico population of the Antillean manatee be listed as endangered. Both subspecies are currently classified under the ESA as threatened.
FWS announced on Oct. 11 that reclassifying the West Indian manatee from threatened to endangered may be justified.
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has completed two 90-day findings on Endangered Species Act petitions to uplist the West Indian manatee and the Puerto Rican population of the Antillean manatee. Based on the Service’s review, both petitions present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned actions may be warranted,” according to a statement from the FWS.
“Today’s decision, known as a 90-day finding, is the first procedural step toward providing much greater protections for the imperiled species. The Fish and Wildlife Service must now conduct a thorough review of the best available science before determining whether to increase protections under the Endangered Species Act,” according to a statement from the Center for Biological Diversity.
A decision is due by Nov. 21.
The environmental groups lauded the decision to review the manatee’s status.
“This is the right call for manatees and everyone who cares about these charming creatures,” said Ragan Whitlock, a Florida-based attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “I applaud the Fish and Wildlife Service for taking the next step toward increased safeguards. Manatees need every ounce of protection they can get.”
“We are pleased that the Fish and Wildlife Service recognizes the need to reevaluate its ill-timed decision to downlist the Florida manatee,” said Patrick Rose, an aquatic biologist and executive director of Save the Manatee Club. “There can be no doubt that the service needs to immediately rebuild its manatee recovery program through increased staffing and funding. While the two remaining manatee recovery staff members are doing an incredible job in the face of unprecedented environmental assaults upon the manatees and their habitat, they must have more help right now to forestall this continuing emergency.”
The ESA allows citizens to petition the FWS to add species to the list of endangered and threatened wildlife, remove species from the list, and reclassify species on the list.
“The positive response is a welcome sign of hope for both subspecies of the West Indian manatee, the Antillean manatee and the Florida manatee, to once again thrive and inspire future generations,” said Frank S. González García, a Puerto Rican engineer.
“The service has a long history of working to save the manatee from extinction since it was one of the first species listed under the 1967 precursor to the Endangered Species Act,” FWS Acting Southeast Regional Director Mike Oetker said. “We are committed to ensuring we are getting the most updated scientific information during this status review to protect and recover the species.”
Manatee tips
• Obey posted signs for manatee slow-speed zones;
• Wear polarized sunglasses to see manatees in your path;
• If you observe a manatee mating herd – several manatees gathered as males vie to mate with a female – watch from at least 100 feet away. Coming any closer might disrupt the mating or endanger you; adult manatees typically weigh more than 1,000 pounds;
• Never feed or water manatees as they will become habituated to people, which could put them at risk of injury;
• Stow trash and line when underway. Marine debris that blows overboard can become ingested by or entangled around manatees;
• Report stranded or dead manatees to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Wildlife Alert hotline at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).
The islands underwent a million-dollar mitigation in 2007 to remove all invasive species. Native flora was planted and a two-acre wetland was created. Today mature mangroves dominate the waterways, which are rich with crustaceans, minnows, juvenile finfish and wading birds. Native species planted on uplands created from the dredging of the Intracoastal Waterway in the late 1800s have matured, making the islands one of the best examples of a thriving native marine environment in coastal Florida. The clean-up is part of a two-pronged ongoing effort to clean the islands of trash and support the resurgence of invasive species. The Longboat Key Marine division will be patrolling the Intracoastal Waterway to slow boaters. Kayakers and those without a boat will be ferried to the islands by volunteers.
