Off the Florida shores and up our springfed rivers, the manatee is most worthy. Unfortunately, we lost nearly a thousand manatees in 2021.
Native Floridians of the modern day and days past grew up believing in the spirit of the manatee. An old African legend suggests the manatee was once a human that devoted itself to the sea.
The belief is that the manatee chose to live in the water to be its protector. This sacrifice was so that other humans could benefit from the waterways and all the animals in it for sustenance.
The manatee’s typical lifespan is 40–60 years in the wild yet many indigenous cultures believed that manatees are among the oldest creatures in local waters. Lore suggests that they were of the wisest in the waters, able to survive beyond so many others.
Today, the manatee is again a canary in the coal mine.
After decades of conservation and protection efforts, the manatee has been a beacon of hope for sustainability in Florida. Alas, the manatees of Florida experienced an unprecedented mortality crisis in 2021, without relief in sight.
Over 1,000 manatees died of starvation due to a lack of seagrass, their primary source of nourishment. 2021 marks the deadliest year on record for Florida’s renowned manatee.
In 2017, Manatees we’re declassified from “endangered species” and reclassified to “threatened species” by the state of Florida. Approximately 10-20% of our manatee population has died since their declassification from an endangered species.
As lawmakers “advocate” for change, manatees continue to die.
2015-2016 was the most recent estimate of total manatee population by the state of Florida, indicating at least 7,520 living manatees. (Source: The Tampa Bay Times).
2015-2016 was the most recent estimate of total manatee population by the state of Florida, indicating at least 7,520 living manatees. (Source: The Tampa Bay Times).
In only the first six months of 2021, Florida broke the annual manatee death record. (Source: The Associated Press via National Public Radio).
A gentle giant, as commonly referred, the manatee endures many threats. Most manatees are branded by boat propellers and other marks of human apathy.
Locals believe this strongly, posting “SLOW – MANATEE” signs from their riverside docks. Many of us shout from our boat bows or waterfront parks; “SLOW DOWN” as careless boaters prioritize wreckless recreation over everything, including the manatee.
Boat strikes actually only kill a fraction of manatees, approximately 9-10%, although many such cases may go undocumented.
“Almost every manatee in the state of Florida has been within an inch or two of losing its life to a boat,” explains Monica Ross, a senior research scientist at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, who has worked with manatees for over thirty years.
Yet the plague that is ravishing the manatee population is actually a lack of seagrass. The manatee, also colloquially known as the “sea cow”, is a vegetarian species, feeding almost exclusively on seagrass beds.
Unfortunately, algae blooms from warming waters and climate changes are likely a major cause to the sudden loss of vegetation and sustenance for the manatee.
Local peoples and organisations can organise to create seagrass safe havens. We can also organise low or no swim or boat zones to help prevent the degradation to seagrass beds.
Most importantly, we can continue to research seagrass development alongside coral, sponge, and other critical members to the sea world.
Together, we can protect the worthy manatee. A portion of all proceeds of She Worthy Original & Custom Art will be donated to these efforts.
Together, we can protect the worthy manatee. A portion of all proceeds of She Worthy Original & Custom Art will be donated to these efforts.
Resources:
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that he will include more than $30 million in next year’s state budget to try and figure out why so many of the gentle giants are dying in Florida waters.
“This historic funding will support important restoration efforts across the state to benefit our manatees and Florida’s natural environment,” DeSantis said. “My administration will continue working to find new and innovative ways to support our native species, like the manatee, so that the generations to come can experience Florida’s natural resources.”
The more than $30 million included in the budget includes:
• $20 million to enhance and expand the network of manatee acute care facilities, restore access to springs, provide habitat restoration in manatee concentrated areas, expand manatee rescue and recovery efforts, and implement pilot projects like the supplemental feeding trials that took place this past winter.
• $5.3 million to expand Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) manatee mortality and response efforts, including 12 new positions.
• $160,000 to support increased aerial surveys.
• $4.7 million in base funding to support manatee acute care facilities and research, rescue, and conservation activities.