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Location: Pinellas Point | Science Backs Up Change In Manatees' Designation
By FRANK SARGEANT
Published: Dec 5, 2007
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission meets today in Key Largo to review a contentious change in status for the Florida manatee, ruling on an issue that was delayed by an unprecedented intercession by Gov. Charlie Crist. The commission planned to handle downlisting manatees from endangered to threatened in September, but bowed to Crist's call for further review after much arm-twisting by the Save the Manatee Club.
But in fact, the downlisting is likely to have no effect on manatee protections, either in the number and scope of slow-speed zones for boaters or in the fines assessed against those who violate these zones. The change is simply a matter of good science, admitting that manatees have made an amazing comeback over the last 30 years. Continuing to list them as endangered when they are no longer at risk of extinction makes no sense - and neither do further draconian rulings aimed at putting all powerboats off the water.
It's true that the number of manatee deaths have been higher in recent years. But it's also true that the overall number of manatee deaths have been increasing steadily since the recovery began. This is a predictable consequence of having more animals in the water - in fact, one of the ways that biologists estimate deer populations is the number of deer/auto accidents; more accidents, more deer. And for those who spend any time on the waters of Florida these days, it's perfectly obvious that there has been a geometric increase in manatee populations in much of the southern two-thirds of the peninsula.
Back From Near-Extinction
Both the FFWCC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service note that human-caused mortality continues to be a major concern, even given that there are now somewhere around 3,000 manatees in Florida waters. Last year, 91 of the 416 deaths, about 22 percent, were the result of boat strikes or propeller cuts. That's close to the average, around 24 percent per year since 1990. Note, though, that in 1990, only 206 manatees died from all causes. If you're an experienced Florida boater, you know that's because there were only about half as many manatees in 1990 as today.
It has been mostly forgotten that the downlisting is the result of a request about 6 years back by the Coastal Conservation Association for the FFWCC to evaluate the status of the manatee populations, as an antidote to burgeoning rules aimed at putting boaters off the water throughout manatee country.
With increased attention to populations and their likely future, state research scientists have concluded that manatees have come back to the point that there is virtually no chance of their becoming extinct in the foreseeable future.
The assessment was made not only by FFWCC biologists, but by scientists from the USFWS, the U.S. Geological Survey and several universities. The conclusion was that there was no chance of an 80 percent decline in the manatee population over the next three generations, or 60 years, and the species did not meet the scientific designation of endangered.
However, the panel agreed that there is slightly more than a 12 percent chance that manatee numbers could decline as much as 50 percent in the next 60 years, and thus they should be labeled threatened. A 12 percent risk is not great, but neither is it so little as to allow slackening of current manatee protections.
There Are Other Risks
But other areas of concern, put on the FFWCC agenda for correction over the next three to five years, include the possibility of hot-water power plant outflows being shut down or reduced as technology changes. These outflows are suggested as one of the reasons for the manatee comeback, providing a winter refuge. Just how the FFWCC could go about keeping the outfalls operating if economics dictate otherwise remains to be seen.
The same is true of the flow of warm-water springs, which could become at risk as more municipalities tap underground water supplies. The FFWCC plans to work with water management districts around springs used by manatees to prevent reduction in flows during the winter.
In short, it's to be hoped that the commission does today what it should have done in September, and moves toward scientific rather than emotional management of Florida's unique and fascinating sea cow. Reasoned efforts will assure the future of the manatee and assure all of us continued access to Florida's coastal waters.
http://www.tbo.com/sports/columnists/franksargeant/MGB48BRCT9F.html
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Science In Manatee Designation | Frank Sargeant
