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Record Florida Manatee Count Reported By Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission

By Jennifer Deutschmann
Published on: 10:27 PST, Feb 28, 2016

A record Florida manatee count was reported by the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in February, 2016. Last year, the number of manatees along Florida’s coasts exceeded 6,000 for the first time since their numbers were recorded. As the commission reported even higher numbers this year, the marine mammals may be removed from the list of endangered species.

Florida manatees are herbivorous marine mammals, who congregate along the coast during the winter months. Although they can reach lengths of 12 feet, and weigh up to 1,800 pounds, manatees are often referred to as “gentle giants,” as they are notoriously calm and slow-moving.

Manatees have few natural predators. However, they are sensitive to cold water and toxic algae blooms. They have also suffered from a loss of habitat along the United States coasts.

Unfortunately, many of their injuries and deaths are human-related. Save The Manatee reports a majority of human-related manatee injuries and deaths are caused by boat collisions. However, “other causes of human-related manatee mortality include being crushed and/or drowned in canal locks and flood control structures; ingestion of fish hooks, litter, and monofilament line; and entanglement in crab trap lines.”

As a result of their waning numbers, manatees are protected under several acts, including the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act, the 1973 Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the 1978 Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act.

These acts protect manatees and other endangered species by making “it illegal to harass, hunt, capture, or kill” them.

In 1989, Florida’s then-governor Bob Martinez suggested measures to further protect the Florida manatees. In addition to setting boating speed limits, and increasing fines, the plan included educational and research programs to raise public awareness and ultimately prevent extinction.

Although the Florida manatee count was fewer than 1,260 in 1991, record Florida manatee counts were reported in 2015 and again in 2016. A United States Fish and Wildlife Service spokesperson said the 500 percent increase over the last 25 years “is incredibly encouraging and a great testament to the conservation actions of many.”

CNN reports the record numbers are likely to enhance efforts to remove the marine mammals from the endangered species list.

A 2007 review, conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, concluded “manatees could be reclassified from ‘endangered’ to ‘threatened.'” However, the magnificent creatures were never removed from the list.

Several lawmakers and organizations are fighting to have manatees removed from the endangered species list due to restrictions associated with the classification.

Brevard County Commissioner Curtis Smith, for example, wants to increase boating speed limits as he believes “the restriction was based on emotion,” and is largely ineffective.

Save the Manatee Club director Katie Tripp said the record Florida manatee count is encouraging. However, she believes the marine mammals are still endangered.

“You don’t celebrate when you’re not done with the game. There’s a lot more work to be done to safeguard the habitat, to get manatees removed from the Endangered Species Act altogether.”

Although the topic will likely remain controversial, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service will move forward with their plan to remove manatees from the endangered species list and reclassify them as “threatened.” The record Florida manatee count only proved their earlier findings that “the West Indian manatee no longer falls within the ESA’s definition of endangered.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said the change will not affect any protections set forth in the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the 1978 Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act.

Although the record Florida manatee count is certainly encouraging, environmental activists said the marine mammals are still in danger from boat collisions, cold water, and toxic algae blooms.

[Image via Greg Amptnam]

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