Numerous groups of manatees are dying in Florida (United States) mainly due to starvation. Thus, according to a report published by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, between January 1 and July 2, 841 manatees died near the Florida coast.
In 2013, 830 manatees perished in Florida during the colder months when they migrated southeast of Orlando. However, the leading cause of death this year has been hunger.
Loss of seagrass
The loss of seagrass, a food that manatees depend on for survival, is likely the result of increased pollution in Florida’s waters.
Fertilizer runoff and sewage leaks have led to increased levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in the waters, which, in turn, could drive algae blooms.
Since 2011, persistent algal blooms have reduced water clarity , resulting in less sunlight reaching seagrass beds.
Thus, seagrasses, like many plants, need sunlight to survive. Now, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is working with other organizations to restore habitat.
Death of manatees
As the weather has warmed (in summer) and manatees have traveled to other areas of Florida in search of food, the number of malnourished carcasses and manatees in need of rescue has been decreasing.
In fact, in June the main cause of death for manatees was collisions with boats . So far this year, 63 manatees have been killed by boats, according to the commission.
Conservation efforts
Years ago, manatees ( Trichechus manatus ) were declared endangered. There were only a few hundred left in the 1970s, according to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Thanks to conservation efforts, the manatee population recovered and its status was changed to threatened in 2017. Thus, about 6,300 manatees currently inhabit Florida, according to The Associated Press.
