Florida manatees continue to die off, as protections can’t account for algae
2022 has been a rough year for manatees so far. Most years are for the marine mammals that just can’t seem to catch a break. 541 manatees have been recorded as dead this year as of May 6th, according to a preliminary report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, nearly 60% of the deaths happening in Brevard County. The species is classified as threatened rather than endangered, have extensive federal and state protections to establish their safety, and have further legislation in place on a county level, but the die-offs continue all the same.
The deaths aren’t just the result of boating or littering, two common hazards for the manatees, but of starvation. Water pollution results in algae blooms, which kill off the seagrass the manatees feed on. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has been feeding them lettuce as a substitute, and they’re not expected to go extinct any time soon, but the current protections don’t seem to be enough to account for environmental factors. There are legislative measures in place that could remedy this, such as enforcement of the Clean Water Act and other state laws against water pollution, but it remains to be seen whether any government action is forthcoming.
