I am pleased to see at least someone is arguing that the manatee should be removed from under the broad umbrella of the Endangered Species Act. Cost for recovery plans is exorbitant I am pleased to see at least someone is arguing that the manatee should be removed from under the broad umbrella of the Endangered Species Act. The manatee has been around for 50 million to 60 million years. The Endangered Species Act has been around for less than 30 years.
Species have the ability to adapt to changes in their environment.
If they are unable to adapt, they become extinct. This is generally referred to as natural selection, or more loosely as survival of the fittest. In the long run, addition to the threatened or endangered list interferes with this adaptive process and probably weakens the species. Given time, the manatee will learn to avoid boats in our waterways and pass this genetic information to its offspring. The manatee is just one of a growing number of plants and animals being protected by the Endangered Species Act.