Florida reports record 1,101 manatee deaths in 2021

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FILE - In this Dec. 28, 2010, record photo, a radical of manatees are successful a canal wherever discharge from a adjacent Florida Power & Light works warms the h2o successful Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Normally giving nutrient to chaotic animals is considered disconnected limits, but the dire concern successful Florida with much than 1,000 manatees dying from starvation owed to manmade contamination is starring officials to see an unprecedented feeding plan. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File) (Lynne Sladky, Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Florida reported 1,101 manatee deaths successful 2021, marking the highest fig of deaths connected grounds successful a azygous year.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission released caller numbers Wednesday documenting the deadly twelvemonth manatees faced successful the state.

In North Florida, the FWC reported 60 deaths, including 19 successful Duval County, 16 successful St. Johns County, 15 successful Flagler County, 4 each successful Putnam and Clay counties and 2 successful Nassau County.

In Central Florida, the FWC reported 359 deaths successful Brevard County, the astir successful the state.

Wildlife officials announced past period they would establish a impermanent tract effect station at Florida Power and Light’s Cape Canaveral Clean Energy Center successful Brevard County, a fashionable spot for manatees seeking warmer waters successful the winter.

Officials anticipation the small-scale feeding proceedings volition trim manatee mortality and trim the fig of animals successful request of rescue. FPL is besides donating $700,000 implicit the adjacent 3 years to assistance with manatee rescue and situation restoration.

Starvation is astatine the basal of the problem, especially successful the Indian River Lagoon, wherever dying seagrass has near the manatees without capable to eat. Three conservation groups filed a formal announcement successful December 2021 of their intent to writer the Environmental Protection Agency if it doesn’t instrumentality steps to support manatees from h2o contamination successful Florida.

If you spot an ailing manatee, the authorities asks that you telephone and study it to 1-888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922). Boaters are urged to abide by velocity regulations, debar motoring implicit shallow seagrass beds and to support their powerboats astatine slightest 50 feet from immoderate manatees they see.

To work the afloat study from FWC, click here.