BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — The West Indian manatee, of which the Florida manatee is a subspecies, is already considered threatened.
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However, some environmental groups hoped to have the Florida manatee uplisted as an endangered species, potentially bringing more resources to recovery efforts.
On Monday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a proposed rule that would keep the Florida manatee at threatened and uplist the Antillean manatee, another west Indian subspecies, to endangered.
Ragan Whitlock, an attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity told us, “The Service has now punted manatee recovery down the road, viewing them as only threatened in the future of going extinct. But we know that’s not the case on the ground. And the service missed a golden opportunity to make sure we got the manatee back on track.”
The Center for Biological Diversity plans to urge the Fish and Wildlife Service to finalize protections for the Antillean Manatee and ask the Service to reconsider its decision regarding the Florida manatee.
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The Florida manatee suffered significant population losses in 2021 and again in 2022, largely due to malnutrition caused by a loss of seagrasses.
The Service will accept comments received or postmarked before March 17, 2025.
A virtual public hearing is scheduled for Feb 26, 2025, from 5-7 p.m. EST. Online registration is required at Manatee Virtual Public Hearing | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
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