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Florida Manatee
Florida manatees are unique and gentle marine mammals, found mainly in coastal estuaries and rivers of the Sunshine State. But these gentle giants are in danger, as the large numbers of people living on Florida’s coasts increasingly come into contact with and cause harm to these fascinating animals.
Florida Manatee Mortality 2010
Sadly, 2010 was a record year for manatee mortality. A total of 766 manatees died in Florida during the year--more than 15 percent of the known manatee population. The majority of these deaths were caused by unusually prolonged cold weather in the early months of the year. According to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Research Institute, 281 manatees died from cold-related causes. Boat collisions were another major cause of death in 2010, with 83 manatees killed by watercraft. Although the total amount of manatee deaths in 2011 is lower than the previous year, by September 2, 2011, boat collisions alone had already killed sixty-four of the slow moving mammals.
Defenders closely monitors manatee mortality statistics with an eye on reducing the threats to manatees in the wild. You can keep track of them by reviewing manatee mortality statistics on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Web site.
Take Action
Florida manatees need all the support they can get. Take a minute to educate yourself or to contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to tell them you oppose downlisting the Florida manatee until the threats to the marine mammal and its habitat are curtailed.
Management and Policy
Many challenges remain to ensure that Florida manatees are protected and the threats to the animals and their habitat are minimized. Defenders is working to ensure federal and state protections are adequate and properly implemented to lead to the recovery of this unique and gentle species.
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