The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that the West Indian manatee may need to be reclassified from threatened to endangered. And the reality is: they're right.
Ever since the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service prematurely slashed manatee protections back in 2017, the species has been declining, and fast. There were approximately 2,000 manatee deaths between 2021 and 2022 in Florida, nearly 20% of the entire manatee population in the state.
The final decision on the protection is due by November 23, 2023. We must put pressure on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to do the right thing and protect manatees by reclassifying them as endangered!
Sign now to demand the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reclassify the manatee as endangered immediately!
Fertilizer runoff, leaking septic tanks, and discharges from wastewater treatment facilities have caused rampant pollution in Florida waterways. Then algae blooms – fueled by these types of pollution – led to a massive multi-year mortality event for the poor manatees.
Humans have caused this crisis, and it is our job to stop it.
We can prevent the extinction of a beautiful species – but only if we act before it is too late. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must reclassify manatees as endangered! Sign the petition if you agree!
