We wanted to share the good news that, due to really cold weather conditions, together with nearly ideal viewing conditions, a record 3,807 manatees were counted during the statewide synoptic survey conducted by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in January. These surveys were begun in 1991. We are particularly encouraged that manatee populations continue to grow in the Northwest Florida and Upper St. John’s regions, where we have fought for strong manatee protections through regulations, protection of natural springs for warmth in the winter, the establishment of sanctuaries where human access is limited or prohibited, and substantial overall habitat preservation efforts linked to strong growth-management laws. The higher counts in these two regions also mirror manatee population models that have predicted growth within these two management regions.

The synoptic counts represent a minimum population estimate for Florida’s manatees and FWC has always cautioned against using the survey results to infer trends in the manatee population. FWC is currently testing a new methodology that may be applied as early as 2010, which would allow the agency to make more accurate population estimates. The new methods would include five flyovers of significant warm-water sites, whereas one flyover is currently conducted. A computer model would then be applied to account for weather and water conditions that may affect the count, and provide a population estimate.

These survey numbers, while indicative of the effectiveness of current manatee regulations, such as sanctuaries and speed zones in some areas, do not justify decreased manatee protection. This is especially true for the Southwest Florida population which experiences the highest mortality rates, is believed to be declining, and accounts for more than 40% of the state’s manatee population. Unlike the Northwest Florida and Upper St. John’s regions, record high numbers of manatees were not counted in Southwest Florida during the 2009 surveys. Additionally, previously modeled estimates of adult survival rates are lower for this management region than for the other three regions of the state. In contrast to the Northwest Florida and Upper St. Johns regions, Southwest Florida is heavily populated by humans and contains a high number of coastal developments that threaten manatees and their aquatic habitat. The Southwest is also the region most affected by red tide events, which have killed at least 318 manatees from 2003-2008.

Manatees are still faced with a myriad of grave threats throughout their range, including the potential loss of winter warm-water sites, such as natural springs and power plant outfalls. As power plants age, they could be taken off line or decommissioned altogether. The loss of warm water at even a single power plant during a cold spell could result in a large-scale manatee mortality. Further, the loss of aquatic habitat to rapid and poorly planned coastal development remains an on-going threat to the endangered manatees’ long-term survival. While these synoptic surveys represent a snapshot of the current manatee population, the long-term health, viability, and recovery of the population depends on monitoring trends such as adult survival rate and minimizing human-related causes of injury and mortality, as well as degradation of habitat, which are dependent upon strong manatee and manatee habitat protection regulations. This need was echoed in a 2007 report by the U.S. Geological Survey entitled “A Quantitative Threats Analysis for the Florida Manatee,” in which the two greatest threats to the population were identified as watercraft collisions and loss of warm-water habitat.

There were 90 manatee deaths from boat strikes in 2008, a sharp increase from the 5-year average. There was also a record high 101 newly born and stillborn manatee deaths. These alarming numbers, combined with growing threats, require us to remain ever-vigilant, always seeking to reduce the number of human-related manatee deaths and injuries while advocating for the strongest protections possible.

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