Manatees Deaths

They include feeding lettuce for the second straight year, as poor water quality and algae blooms have depleted seagrass beds that provide a key food source for manatees in the Indian River Lagoon.

Calling declines in the manatee population since 2017 “dramatic” a coalition of groups have petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to increase protections for the aquatic mammal.

Researchers say Hurricane Ian brought red tide, destroyed artificial reefs from as far away as 30 miles from the coast of southwest Florida, and could impact the state's fishing industry.

The TECO Manatee Viewing Center opens again to the public on Nov. 1.

Human activities both on and in the water can impact wild manatees in Florida and across the globe.

There have not been as many Florida manatees dying this year.

About 140 distressed manatees have been rescued over the past year.

They want to be prepared for when manatees make their winter return to areas depleted of sea grasses.

The conservation groups say the habitat protections have not been updated since 1976.

Florida's offshore marine habitat is in peril. Populations of fish are dwindling in many places, and manatees have been dying in record numbers. The basis for much of this life lies in seagrass just under our boats. We join a scientist on a trip into one of the healthiest seagrass meadows in the Gulf of Mexico.

The lack of seagrass forage during winter months has triggered an unprecedented die-off of manatees.

The groups say more than half of the manatee deaths were related to starvation in the Indian River Lagoon.