Manatees have long been fascinating to humans. These slow-moving, gentle animals spend much of their time eating and resting and have inspired stories about mermaids among sailors. However, these vulnerable animals are facing many threats. To protect them, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed additional critical habitat for Florida and Antillean manatees in Florida and Puerto Rico respectively, and is asking the public for comments. Express support for this important step in saving manatees!

The Florida manatee and the Antillean manatee are two subspecies of the West Indian manatee and are both protected under the Endangered Species Act.

Manatees are extremely intelligent and have been observed engaging in play such as somersaults and other underwater gymnastics. They communicate using chirps, squeaks, and grunts, and mothers and their babies form strong familial bonds. Manatees also play a crucial role in their ecosystems by feeding on and maintaining seagrass beds that function as the “lungs of the sea.” However, these important animals experience numerous threats from algae blooms, human harassment, the climate crisis, and watercraft collisions.

In 2021, the USFWS declared an Unusual Mortality Event for manatees that is still in effect. Between December 2020 and December 2022, over 2,000 manatees died in Florida. The Indian River Lagoon, an important habitat for manatees, suffered a series of algal blooms leading to a massive loss of seagrass. An algae bloom happens when excess nitrogen and phosphorus in waterways fuel algae and cause it to grow so fast that the ecosystem can not tolerate it. This algal bloom in the Indian River Lagoon was mainly human-caused. Runoff of improperly treated sewage, leaking septic systems, fertilizers, and stormwater runoff resulted in a loss of over 90% of the seagrass biomass in the Indian River Lagoon, which caused many manatees to suffer the agonizing death of starvation.

In September, the USFWS published a proposed rule that would almost double the critical habitat for Florida manatees to 1,904,191 acres. The plan also includes a 78,121-acre designation for the Antillean manatee in Puerto Rico. These revisions come after environmental groups Center for Biological Diversity, Save the Manatee Club, Wildlife Advocacy Project, and Defenders of Wildlife pushed the agency to revise the habitat designations that haven't changed since 1976.

Having these designations is an important step in protecting the manatee and increasing their chance of survival. The designation means that federal agencies won't be able to do or grant permits for anything that will damage, destroy, or adversely alter the protected area.

Letter to Decision Maker(s) for reference:

As someone concerned with wildlife and one of over 250,000 In Defense of Animals supporters, I support the critical habitat designations for Florida and Antillean manatees.

Manatees play a crucial role in their ecosystems by feeding on and maintaining seagrass beds that function as the “lungs of the sea.” However, these important animals are experiencing numerous threats, including algae blooms, human harassment, the climate crisis, and watercraft collisions. 

Humans caused the massive die-off of Florida manatees in 2021 by polluting their habitat, which killed off their main food source of seagrass. We need to do everything in our power to protect these animals and prevent another Unusual Mortality Event from occurring. 

Revising the critical habitat designation is a long-overdue change that will increase their chances of survival and protect ecologically important areas to the maximum extent possible, given what we know and can anticipate about environmental changes — especially in light of the recent devastation brought by hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Having these designations is an important step in protecting manatees and ensuring their survival. Please approve and implement these crucial habitat revisions. 

Thank you for your attention to this critical issue.

Sincerely,

Signed

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