IRLNews:2021-04-01/Indian River Lagoon Manatee Mortality Update

Indian River Lagoon News

Indian River Lagoon Manatee Mortality

IRLNews, Author

April 1, 2021

Indian River Lagoon -

The Indian River Lagoon's population of West Indian Manatees is dying at an alarming rate. Florida normally averages 129 manatee deaths a year, but as of March 26, 2021, a record 573 deceased manatees have been reported to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) this year.

In 2016 there were an estimated 8,810 Florida manatees, 4,810 on the west coast and 4,000 on the east coast. Manatees were reclassified from an endangered to a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act in May, 2017.

371 reported manatee deaths were within the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary watershed.

In the first 85 days of 2021 Brevard County citizens reported 248 manatee deaths to FWC Wildlife Hotline at (888) 404-3922.

2021 IRL Manatee Deaths

County	2/26/2021	3/26/2021
Volusia	16	26
Brevard	168	248
Indian River	13	21
St. Lucie	4	11
Martin	24	31
Palm Beach	29	34
Total	254	371

Brevard County Manatee Mortality

There are many factors affecting Brevard's manatee population. All due to human impact.

Natural Migration Interruption

There are an abnormal amount of manatees in the Port St. John's area of the North Indian River Lagoon due to the warm water discharge from the electric power plant. Manatees would normally migrate south as the temperature drops, but the power plant's warm water outflow distracts them from their natural migration. Port St. John's resident manatee population is estimated at 500 individuals, during cold weather the population may increase to well over a 1,000.

Loss of Seagrass

It is estimated that the Indian River Lagoon has lost 54% of the record high seagrass coverage recorded in 2007. The bottom of the North IRL looks like a barren desert.

Manatees may eat up to 10% of their body weight daily and there just isn't enough seagrass growing in the North IRL to feed the unnaturally large population.

Video

Virginia Barker, Brevard Natural Resources Management Director, speaks about the record manatee deaths in the north IRL.

Video courtesy of Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition

Web Links

• Winter Manatee Foraging Behavior and the Decline of Seagrass Beds in the Northern Indian River Lagoon USGS 2015
• FWC Update to the Statewide Florida Manatee Abundance Estimate
• Bloomberg Businessweek: Nobody Knows How to Wean Manatees Off of Power Plants

Documents

• FWC 2021 Preliminary Manatee Mortality Table (PDF 19pp 562KB)
• FWC 2021 YTD Manatee Mortality Table (PDF 1p 113KB)
• Updated Statewide Abundance Estimates for the Florida Manatee (PDF 27pp)

References

Location: Estuary: Indian River Lagoon: Florida East Coast

Source: Article Published by Indian River Lagoon News on April 01, 2021. Retrieved on April 01, 2021.

Topic: Wildlife