19, according to state figures.Īs winter looms, even in Florida, another bad year is expected. But the starvation threat has led to a record 1,017 manatee deaths as of Nov. Hundreds of the slow-moving animals are struck every year by boats, which has led to no-wake manatee zones throughout Florida with violations punishable by significant fines. Manatees have long struggled to survive with humans. It's illegal, and remains so," Rose said. "Under no circumstances do we want people feeding manatees. People would not be authorized to simply start tossing lettuce into a Florida bay some place. It would be an experiment involving lettuce, cabbage, and other greens delivered in a controlled manner such as via a conveyer belt, Rose said. The emerging plan would involve feeding manatees at a Florida Power & Light plant in Cape Canaveral, along the Indian River Lagoon on the east coast where manatees congregate in cold winter months because of the warm water discharge from the plant.
A formal announcement is expected later this week. It is a problem created by man and man is going to have to solve it."Ī Fish and Wildlife Service spokesman said in an email that the agency "does have approval to move forward on a limited feeding trial" but that details are not yet finalized.
"It's the entire ecosystem that is affected by this and will be affected for a decade to come," Rose said in an interview Tuesday. The club was co-founded in 1981 by Florida troubadour Jimmy Buffet and former governor and U.S. This is not usually done with any wild animal, but the situation has become such an emergency that it has to be considered, said Save The Manatee Club Executive Director Patrick Rose.
Fish and Wildlife Service and state environmental officials intend to unveil a limited proposal this week to feed the beloved marine mammals in one specific Florida location to test how it works.