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Defenders Statement on West Indian Manatee Proposal
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service this week released a proposal to list two subspecies of the West Indian manatee — the Florida manatee and
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Florida Passes Ill-Conceived Amendment 2, Wildlife Conflict Could Ensue
Florida voters yesterday affirmed Amendment 2 to the state’s constitution, a wholly unnecessary amendment disguised as an effort to preserve the right to fishing and
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Florida Manatees to Receive Nearly 2 Million Acres of Revised Protected Habitat
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Monday proposed a revised critical habitat plan that would protect 1,904,191 acres of critical habitat for the Florida
More Florida Manatee Press Releases
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40,750 People Sign Defenders of Wildlife Petition to Stop Manatee Deaths
This weekend, Defenders of Wildlife sent a petition with 40,750 signatures to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), urging swift and meaningful action to prevent more manatee deaths in Florida.
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Changes Sought for Florida Manatee Critical Habitat as Deaths Set New Record
Conservation organizations today filed a formal notice of their intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to revise outdated critical habitat for Florida manatees.
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Tampa Bay’s Catastrophic Red Tide Could Preview Florida’s Future
A large outbreak of highly toxic algae or “red tide” continues to impact Gulf Coast communities in Southwest Florida, resulting in the deaths of over 1,500 tons of marine life and fish, including manatees, goliath groupers, dolphins and endangered sea turtles along St. Petersburg and Pinellas County beaches.
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Gov. DeSantis Urged to Declare State of Emergency Due to Red Tide
More than two dozen local businesses and conservation groups today asked Gov. Ron DeSantis to declare a state of emergency due to the ongoing red tide and fish kills in and around Tampa Bay.
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Florida Manatee Deaths Break Annual Record with 841 Confirmed
Florida manatee mortality numbers now stand at 841 since the start of 2021, accounting for approximately 10% of the estimated total population of 8,810 animals and breaking the all-time record for annual manatee deaths. The previous record was set in 2013 with 830 casualties. With over five months left in the year, the death toll will likely continue to rise.
jcovey@defenders.org
