Race Against Time: New Habitat Protections Could Save Manatees from Extinction

In a significant move to protect one of the ocean’s most threatened species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed new critical habitat designations for two subspecies of the West Indian manatee. The proposal would safeguard nearly 2 million acres for the Florida manatee and over 78,000 acres for the Antillean manatee in Puerto Rico, a crucial step in the fight to save the species from the brink of extinction.

The manatee, an iconic yet vulnerable marine mammal, has seen its populations dwindle due to increasing threats, including habitat loss, water pollution, and deadly collisions with watercraft. The Florida manatee is particularly at risk, with 1.9 million acres of its habitat threatened by loss of seagrass, rampant coastal development, and environmental degradation. Warm-water habitats, essential for their survival during cold months, are disappearing rapidly, leaving the species exposed to dangerously low temperatures. Without protections, experts warn Florida’s manatee population could face an accelerated decline.

The Antillean manatee, found in Puerto Rico and across the Caribbean, faces similarly grim prospects. Isolated groups are struggling with low genetic diversity and limited migration corridors, making them especially vulnerable to environmental changes and human activities. The proposed 78,121-acre critical habitat designation in Puerto Rico aims to shield these manatees from further decline, though experts argue that more must be done to address the ongoing threats.

Federal agencies are required by law to ensure their actions do not harm or destroy designated critical habitats, a mandate outlined by the Endangered Species Act. However, the areas already occupied by the manatees are often under existing protections. For the species to truly recover, the proposed critical habitats need to remain undisturbed by harmful activities like coastal construction or pollutants that could degrade water quality further.

Manatees, often called “gentle giants,” have long been symbols of Florida’s wildlife, but their peaceful existence is increasingly threatened. Watercraft collisions are responsible for hundreds of deaths each year, while habitat degradation from human activities continues to shrink their foraging and resting areas. In the Caribbean, the Antillean manatee population is particularly fragile, struggling against the dual pressures of environmental stress and isolation.

The public is encouraged to voice their opinions on the proposed critical habitat designations by November 25, 2024. Comments can be submitted through official channels, with requests for public hearings due by November 8, 2024. While the proposed habitat protections mark a significant step forward, the long-term survival of the manatee will depend on sustained efforts to reduce threats and safeguard their fragile environments.