Manatee Recovery Fact Sheet


Introduction

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the Federal agency charged with protecting the Nation's
threatened and endangered species.  As such, we receive numerous inquiries from the public
every year regarding the endangered Florida manatee.  While there is almost unparalleled public
support for manatee conservation, there is also much concern about excessive government
regulation of development and public activities.  Often, the public debate about manatees--
whether they need more or less protection--centers on the "facts."  With this in mind, we thought
it would be valuable to offer the following "Manatee Facts."

Biology

The Florida manatee occurs primarily in Florida and southeastern Georgia.  It is usually found in
freshwater, brackish, and saltwater habitats.  Because manatees cannot survive very long in water
below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, south Florida and some natural springs make to the Florida
manatee's natural winter range.  

Manatees depend on seagrass and other aquatic vegetation for food.  In the winter, they
congregate around warm water springs and man-made sources of warm water such as power
plant discharges.

Manatees can live for several decades.  Adult females give birth to a calf about once every three
years.

Manatees have few natural predators.  The greatest natural threats are exposure to cold
temperatures, hurricanes, and poisoning from red tide.

Population Status

No one knows exactly how many manatees there are now or how many there were at any time in
history.  Aerial surveys are done every year.  However, these surveys are inexact because of
changing weather conditions, water clarity, manatee behavior, and other factors.  As a result,
scientists are reluctant to base their evaluations of the manatee population on these surveys.  To
evaluate the population, we presently monitor statistics such as adult survival rates, reproduction,
and population growth rate.

The Florida manatee population is divided into four sub-populations: the Upper St. Johns River
(4% of the population); Atlantic Coast (46%); Southwest Florida (38%); and Northwest Florida
(12%).

Based on published data for the survival rates, reproduction, and population growth, the Upper
St. Johns River and Northwest Florida sub-populations are growing rapidly and doing very well. 
The Atlantic Coast sub-population is probably stable.

There is little information on the status of the Southwest Florida sub-population, though research
is underway.

Legal Protection

Manatees are an endangered species, protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act. 
Manatees are also protected under the Federal Marine Mammal Protection Act.  Both of these
laws make it illegal to "take" (i.e., harm, harass, injure, kill, etc.) manatees.

Manatees are also protected under the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act.  A state policy in 1989
further identified 13 "key counties" which needed to develop manatee protection plans. 

Under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, we have authority to evaluate impacts of
development on manatees and their habitat, to ensure that development does not jeopardize the
continued existence of the species.

We also have authority to establish manatee protection areas to prevent take (i.e., manatee
refuges and sanctuaries), and to enforce State and Federal manatee protection areas.

Problems and Threats from Humans

The most pressing human-related threat to manatees is injury and death resulting from collisions
with watercraft.  In 2000, at least 78 manatees were killed by watercraft.

Another important threat is loss of reliable warm water habitats that allow manatees to survive
the cold in winter.  Natural springs are threatened by increased demands for water supply and
aging power plants may need to be replaced.  Deregulation of the power industry may also result
in less reliable man-made sources of warm water.

Seagrass and other aquatic foods that manatees depend on are affected by water pollution and
sometimes direct destruction.

Conservation Efforts

Manatee conservation and recovery involves many partners from government and industry, as
well as many citizens.

Numerous manatee speed zones have been established by the State of Florida in the bays, rivers,
and other waterways of Florida.

Manatee protection planning efforts are underway in many Florida counties.  There are State-
approved county plans in Duval, Dade, Citrus, and Collier counties.

At this time, seven Federal manatee sanctuaries have been established to help protect the
manatees at Crystal River, Florida.

Many sick and injured manatees are rescued every year.  These animals are often rehabilitated
and returned to the wild.  This effort relies on private marine facilities (such as zoos, large
aquaria, and oceanaria) and an extensive network of manatee specialists and volunteers.

Recommendations and actions to prevent manatee deaths related to water-control structures and
navigation locks have included modification of gate openings and installation of pressure
sensitive and acoustic devices on some of the most deadly locks.

All efforts to reduce water pollution help to maintain and restore aquatic vegetation.

Extensive manatee conservation education work has been conducted by Federal, State, and
private entities.

Future Recovery Needs

As stated above, four Florida counties have state-approved manatee protection plans.  The
remaining nine key counties and several others have established speed zones for manatees. 
However some counties where watercraft-related injury and mortality continue to occur have
almost no protective measures for manatees. We believe that all Florida and southeast Georgia
counties where manatees regularly occur (in summer or winter) should have appropriate manatee
conservation programs in place.

Warm water wintering sites need to be secured.  Important spring flows must be maintained in
the Upper St. Johns River, Northwest Florida, and Southwest Florida; and other reliable sites
must be secured in Southeast and Southwest Florida.

We must ensure that seagrass and other aquatic vegetation are adequate to support a recovered
population.

Summary

Great strides have been made in the protection and recovery of the Florida manatee.  It is
certainly no longer "on the brink of extinction."  However, there is much left to be done to secure
its future.  This will require the cooperation and support of everyone: government, the private
sector, and you!

Questions

For more information on manatees and other our manatee activities visit our web site at
http://northflorida.fws.gov

If you have specific questions, comments or need additional help contact the Jacksonville Field
Office at 904-232-2580 ext. 109, or e-mail your questions, comments or requests for assistance to
fw4_es_jacksonville@fws.gov

updated: 02-15-2001