The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed to maintain the “threatened” classification for Florida manatees, rejecting calls from environmental groups to reclassify them as “endangered.”
The agency announced its decision in a proposed rule released Monday, citing ongoing conservation efforts and the manatee’s current population status as reasons for the decision.
However, the proposed rule would reclassify Antillean manatees found in Puerto Rico from “threatened” to “endangered” due to declining population trends and isolated populations.
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Florida manatees were considered endangered for decades but were reclassified as threatened in 2017. This change sparked controversy, with environmental groups arguing that the manatees still face significant threats and require greater protection.
A 2022 petition filed by several organizations, including the Center for Biological Diversity and the Save the Manatee Club, urged the federal agency to reconsider the endangered classification. This petition followed a record number of manatee deaths in 2021, primarily attributed to starvation due to seagrass loss.
The proposed rule acknowledges the ongoing threats to Florida manatees, including habitat loss, boat strikes, and red tide. However, it highlights conservation efforts such as seagrass restoration, spring protection, and the establishment of warm-water refuges as factors contributing to the decision to maintain the threatened classification.
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The proposed rule also establishes separate classifications for Florida manatees and Antillean manatees, recognizing the distinct challenges facing each population.
Newly released data shows that 565 manatees died in Florida in 2024, following a record 1,100 deaths in 2021 and 800 deaths in 2022.
While the number of deaths has decreased in recent years, the ongoing threats to manatee survival remain a concern.
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