There were 841 manatee deaths since January 1st of 2021, which is the largest mass mortality event since 2013 (830 deaths). The deaths were due to a lack of seagrass in their favourite eating spot, Indian Lagoon. 

Seagrass is a crucial part of the manatee diet and without the presence of the ocean plant, manatees end up starving to death. It's important to maintain good water quality for optimal seagrass health. 

Unfortunately, water quality along the Florida coastline has been awful over the past decade due to sewage overflow runoff with high nitrogen and phosphorus levels. The higher nutrients create algal blooms that block the sun from getting to the seagrass. When the algal blooms die off, they land on the seagrass resulting in a major die-off of the plants.  

Government policy on water quality and restoration of seagrasses will help re-establish the important coastal habitat; however, that will require a lot of time and money. 

Link to article: https://www.livescience.com/manatees-florida-die-off-record.html

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The Manatee population in Florida is doing much better since being added the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act in the 1970s. The population has increased from 600 to over 8000 individuals; however, there are still some things that we can do to make sure humans and our technology do not harm them or kill them, including making sure that the Manatee sensors on Flood Gates work. 

Link to Article: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/environment/fl-ne-manatees-deaths-2020-20210211-iysem4xpbnetbfmkw77k6wg4k4-story.html

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Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2lV6THt

Environmental Studies & Sciences
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Marine Mammal Science:
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The Guide To Mindful Conservation: Dancing In Pink Hiking Boots:
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The word "TRUMP" was written on the back of a Manatee to the outrage of many people around the world. 

The political war going on between Trump supporters and the House/Senate last week spilled over to the environment as a manatee was discovered to be swimming with the word TRUMP on its back. 

When I first read the article, I was worried that the word was carved into the back of the peaceful marine mammal; however, after looking at the picture and getting confirmation from another article, I was relieved to hear that animal was not mutilated. The word was written by scraping off the algae to make the word like someone would write "Clean Me" on the back window of a dirty car.

The fact the word was written on such a magnificent animal was a kick in the teeth to all environmentalists as the Trump administration has been anything but friendly to the US (and global) environment. The administration dismantled the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), rolled back policies that were designed to protect the environment, and called open season for oil and gas exploration. 

The incident is a great representation of how 2021 is starting off: it awful what happened to the manatee, but it's not as bad as we initially thought!

Link to article: https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7vqvq/manatee-with-trump-etched-into-back-sparks-federal-investigation

Want To Talk Oceans? Join the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Speak Up For Blue Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakupforblue/

Speak Up For Blue Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpeakUpforBlue

Check out the Shows on the Speak Up For Blue Network:

Marine Conservation Happy Hour
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2k4ZB3x
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2kkEElk

Madame Curiosity
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2xUlSax
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2V38QQ1

ConCiencia Azul:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2k6XPio
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2k4ZMMf

Dugongs & Seadragons:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lB9Blv
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2lV6THt

Environmental Studies & Sciences
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lx86oh
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2lG8LUh

Marine Mammal Science:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2k5pTCI
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2k1YyRL

Projects For Wildlife Podcast:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Oc17gy
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/37rinWz

Ocean Science Radio
Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3chJMfA
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3bnkP18

The Guide To Mindful Conservation: Dancing In Pink Hiking Boots:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/31P4UY6
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3f7hDJw

Manatee numbers are up, big time, but should they be down listed from Endangered to Threatened? I discuss this on this episode. 

Manatees went from 600 to 6000 individuals in 40 years. Down listing these species will still require careful management and protection.

Enjoy the podcast!

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