Success: Florida Manatees on Road to Recovery

Target: Robert A. Spottswood, Chairman of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Goal: Support programs and investments aimed at safeguarding Florida’s manatees.

Nearly 2,000 of Florida’s manatees perished in a so-called Unusual Mortality Event over a two-year period. But researchers and advocates insist the cause of the mass die-off was entirely known and preventable. Rampant water pollution and subsequent algae blooms reportedly killed up to 90 percent of seagrass: a primary food source of manatees. This Forcechange petition and its signees implored Florida’s leaders to take needed action for the protection of this species and its habitats. And that action is finally at hand.

The state’s government has announced an additional 100 million dollars of funds for the water quality restoration of the Indian River Lagoon: a critical habitat for manatees. Leaders also provided a boost in funding for manatee habitat restoration and support across the state. Such investments have been used to launch efforts like a seagrass nursery program in the Mosquito Lagoon. This effort alone has led to a resurgence of seagrass in the biodiverse lagoon. The renewed commitment has also paid dividends for the manatee population as a whole, which experienced their own rise during the past year.

Sign the petition below to thank the agency who helped make these conservation wins possible.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Chairman Spottswood,

The uptick in manatees and in the seagrass they love is proof of the positive results investment and commitment in conservation causes can bring. The plight of the Florida manatee was once a warning but can now transform into a success story. Initiatives such as the Mosquito Lagoon nursery program have instigated the cessation of emergency feeding operations and the possible removal of the manatee from endangered status.

Thank you for your contributions in protecting and preserving this iconic species.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: US Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters