Indian River Lagoon

The lawsuit came after a record 1,100 manatees died in 2021 in Florida, many because a lack of seagrass — a key food source — led to starvation. The most deaths, 358, were in Brevard County, which includes a large part of the Indian River Lagoon.

Hanisak, director of education and the marine ecosystems health program at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, died May 7.

This year’s fish kills were linked to the lagoon’s low levels of dissolved oxygen.

The pace of manatee deaths seems to have slowed following the second year of the experimental feeding program that was launched because of the deaths of at least 1,100 manatees in 2021.

One proposal would create a decade-long seagrass restoration plan after the state saw a dramatic rise in seagrass loss, tied to record manatee deaths.

Gov. Ron DeSantis proposed a budget that, among other things, calls for a variety of tax cuts and an increase in teacher pay.

The latest figures are showing that 56 manatees have been found dead so far in Florida this year — even more than last year during the same time frame. That's worrying since last year was Florida's second-deadliest year for manatees on record.

The legislature would need to approve DeSantis' $3.5 billion proposal, which would be spread over four years.

Last year was the second-worst ever when it comes to manatee deaths in Florida. Some 800 mortalities were recorded in 2022.

Authorities continue an experimental lettuce feeding program at a power plant on Florida's east coast, where manatees typically gather in winter.

The study from the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute shows the greatest concentration of toxins were in the sharks’ stomachs.

The second year of the feeding program comes after a record 1,102 manatee deaths in 2021.