ECOCIDE

A record 1,100 manatees starved to death last year from a man-made famine. Finally, the pace slows


Jim Waymer, 
Florida Today
Wed, February 23, 2022,

As bad as this year's manatee deaths seem, for the moment, at least, last year was way worse.

At least 326 manatees have died so far this year in Florida, through Feb. 18, compared to a five-year average of 167 for that same period and 356 for the same period last year.

Of this year's manatee deaths, 221 sea cows (67%) have been in Brevard, according to the most recent statistics available from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Meanwhile, manatees have been starving in the Indian River Lagoon, as a result of decades of seagrass loss.

Manatees crowding a canal in Brevard County trying to keep warm in the cold weather.

A record 1,100 manatees starved to death last year from a man-made famine that has choked out the seagrass — the staple of the sea cow's diet.

A leafy lunch: The manatees are finally eating!

Lettuce rejoice!: Manatees finally munch down leafy greens biologists feed them

Seacows show resilience: Florida manatees brave extreme cold amid worst year of seagrass famine

The manatee death toll got so bad that in April 2021, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared the die-off an Unusual Mortality Event. In a first-of-its kind pilot project to try to stave off further starvation, state and federal biologists have been feeding manatees at the FPL plant since mid December. They plan to feed the manatees through the end of March.

Manatees have been starving for years in the lagoon, as a result of seagrass die-off caused by decades of runoff, sewage, septic tank and other pollution.