Reuters 19 Dec 09;
MIAMI (Reuters) - A record number of endangered manatees died in Florida waters this year, according to the state's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
In a preliminary report on Friday, the commission said its Fish and Wildlife Research Institute had documented 419 manatee deaths in state waters between January 1 and December 11, the most for any year since record-keeping began in 1974.
The previous worst year for the mammals was 2006, when 417 deaths were documented in Florida. A lower-than-average total of 337 deaths was reported in 2008.
Manatee death counts can swing wildly from year to year and the wildlife commission has cautioned in the past not to read too much into a single year's statistics.
Along with an uptick in deadly encounters with boats, Florida's manatees faced a string of cold spells this year and a high mortality rate among infant manatees.
Cold-related deaths, at 55, were more than twice last year's total.
The West Indian manatee, related to the African and Amazon species and to the dugong of Australia, grows to 10 feet and more than 1,000 pounds (450 kg). Its wrinkled and whiskered face has won the hearts of generations.
Although they have no natural enemies, manatees are routinely crushed or drowned in canal locks, run over by speeding boats or hurt by fishing line and hooks. They are vulnerable to cold water in winter and to deadly blooms of "red tide" algae.
The Florida population is believed to have increased slightly in recent decades, in part due to boat speed restrictions. As a result, developers and boat industry interests have argued for easing restrictions to allow more construction of boat slips.
State scientists counted a record high number of 3,807 manatees in Florida waters last year, topping the previous high in 2001 by more than 500.
(Reporting by Tom Brown; Editing by Eric Beech)
Death Toll for Florida's Manatees Is Rising
Kate Spinner, Sarasota Herald-Tribune 18 Dec 09;
More manatees died this year in Florida waters than in any year on record, underscoring the state's struggle to keep the sea cow from plummeting to extinction.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported Friday that 419 manatees have been found dead so far this year, 22 percent of which were killed by boats. The total number of deaths exceeds the 2006 record of 417.
The commission's report is likely to become a rallying cry for state efforts to provide greater protection to manatees, including slower speed zones now being considered in Sarasota County.
So far this year, boats have killed 94 manatees, one less than the record in 2002.
Boating groups oppose the slower speed zones and have a great deal of influence on state regulators. Shortly before the manatee figures were released by the research arm of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the regulatory arm of the same organization released a report saying boaters contribute $8.5 billion annually to the Florida economy.
On average, about 25 percent of manatees found dead each year die from boat strikes. So many manatees bear propeller scars that scientists use the markings to identify individual animals.
"The manatee is still an endangered species, so every death is a concern," said Martine deWit, associate research scientist for the commission's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.
DeWit said that although scientists think manatee numbers are increasing, the death numbers are too high to attribute solely to their population growth. Manatees face a number of threats, including disease, red tide blooms, fast-paced boats and cold stress.
Previous high death years coincided with severe outbreaks of toxic red tide algae in 2006 and 1996. This year, mortality numbers soared despite relatively few red tide blooms.
Wildlife biologists do not know why so many manatees, particularly newborns, died this year. The number of dead newborns soared to 114, outpacing a record of 101 set last year.
Cold stress was a big killer this year, but accounted for only 55 deaths. An additional 110 manatees died of unknown causes.
Scientists do not know how many Florida manatees exist, but during aerial surveys last winter roughly 3,800 were counted statewide. Cold, sunny days are credited for that record high count, which exceeded a previous high count of 3,300 in 2001. That year, 325 manatees were found dead in Florida, far fewer than this year's toll.
Scientists think the manatee population is increasing throughout much of the state, but the number of dead animals suggest serious challenges still exist, DeWit said.
She said state biologist also could not identify any type of virus or disease that might have led to the higher death statistics.
Katie Tripp, director of science conservation for Save the Manatee Club, said more needs to be done to protect manatees.
"Things like watercraft mortality, as humans we are able to control that," Tripp said.
She said last year Broward County avoided a spike in manatee deaths by conducting a public education campaign among boaters when 850 manatees decided to congregate there.
"It's very possible that manatees and boaters can co-exist," she said.
