Record Baby Manatee Deaths Explain Florida’s Fragile Ecosystem

Baby manatees are dying at an alarming rate in Florida, the largest amount ever reported on record. With 130 perinatal deaths, conservationists are looking toward the past to uncover the cause of this abnormal setback and toward the future to guarantee it won’t happen again. 

The potential cause of baby manatee deaths occurring today can be traced back to harmful algal blooms that transpired in 2021. Unfortunately, an area that was devastatingly affected by the blooms was the Indian River Lagoon located on the east coast of Florida. The Indian River Lagoon extends from Brevard to Palm Beach County, providing 156 miles of spawning and nursery ground for countless fish and wildlife. The harmful algal blooms sat on the surface of the water, shading the seagrass until it died. According to Dr. Beth Brady, a senior scientist and conservation associate at Save the Manatee Club (SMC), the Indian River Lagoon lost 80 to 90 percent of its seagrass, leaving manatees and other wildlife without food. 

677 manatees were reported dead on Florida’s east coast between the months of December 2020 and May 2021. The loss of seagrass caused an irrevocable chain of health issues for the manatees who took advantage of the estuary’s warm brackish waters during the winter. They became malnourished, with deteriorated muscles and fat and severe atrophy of the liver, heart, and other organs. Some of the mammals were up to 40 percent underweight. 

The Indian River Lagoon is unrecovered to this day. Dr. Brady says, “Even though there are some seagrasses coming back, it’s still a rather tenuous situation. It’s not back to where it was before, and we don’t have the lush seagrasses we had in the past. We could have a hurricane come by and wipe it out and it would be devastating.” Dr. Brady reminds us that this could have long-term implications for humans as well, noting, “the value of the Indian River Lagoon is billions of dollars. People derive from its ecosystem, not just the manatees. This is a bigger indicator of the collapse of ecosystems.”

Fast forward to September 2024, and you’ll notice that perinatal manatee mortality rates are at an all-time high. However, Dr. Brady remarks that the increase in baby manatee deaths may actually be a sign of recovery for the keystone species. She explains that perinatal mortalities happen every year, and it’s not an unusual occurrence. In Brevard, where the Indian River Lagoon begins, there are 25 perinatal carcasses on average a year. In 2022, there were 10 perinatal deaths, and in 2023 there were only 5. This year, Brevard has recorded 44 deaths already, most of them being stillborn. Dr. Brady shares her theory, “The female manatees potentially stopped reproducing in 2022 and 2023 due to being malnourished. The FWC said that they hardly saw any calves being born in those years. The fact that we see dead manatee calves now could be a good sign of manatees coming back to reproduction. Although there are more deaths reported, the FWC has reported seeing more live calves in the wild too.” Dr. Brady insists on staying attuned to the baby manatee population since there is no assurance on how things will pan out. Conservationists and scientists are not sure when the manatees will fully recover and birth healthy calves. Dr. Brady presumes the health of the species will depend on how corporations and lay people take care of their environment and on the resiliency of the habitat.

Focusing on manatee populations can provide valuable information on the health of an environment. As a keystone species, they’re significant indicators on whether there’s a notable issue happening within an ecosystem which could stipulate a larger threat to humans. With incredible damage occurring in wetlands state-wide, manatees can play a crucial role in the research efforts to mitigate and mediate harmful behaviors leading to the destruction of vital habitats. 

Dr. Brady speculates that humans are manatee’s most monumental threat. Having very few natural predators when they are young and small, manatees live their lives harmoniously with most other animals. Humans have the biggest impact on their habitat and livelihood; even red tide, which is a natural occurring event that negatively alters manatee’s food sources, can be fueled by humans. “The loss of seagrass is absolutely related to water quality problems,” Dr. Brady informs, “runoff from agriculture, leaky septic systems, and storms all fuel harmful algal blooms.” Checking your septic system, being aware of the ingredients in the fertilizer you use and being more conscious of what you’re putting into the environment are simple ways for lay people to protect manatees and the habitat we share with them. 

Save the Manatee Club does its part in conserving manatees and their habitat with research, protection, education, and rehabilitation. Founded in 1981 by musician Jimmy Buffet and former Florida Governor Bob Graham, SMC’s mission is multifaceted, encompassing education, advocacy, and funding for the threatened species. Located throughout the state of Florida, the club works internationally and with county governments to educate constituents on manatees. 

Dr. Brady has been studying manatees for over 15 years and has been with SMC since January. She mostly works on research projects pertaining to manatee behavior and reviews development plans to provide public comments. “We’re looking at every application that comes through to see if it will impact manatees,” Dr. Brady said. “There’s so much development; we must try to pick and choose our battles.” She emphasizes that public comment on these projects is critical, as unchecked development could further degrade the already fragile ecosystems manatees rely on. However, the sheer volume of development in Florida makes it impossible to tackle every proposal, forcing conservationists to choose their battles carefully.

While the situation is dire, Dr. Brady remains cautiously optimistic. The resurgence of some seagrass beds and the recent sightings of manatee calves are hopeful signs, but much work remains. The long-term recovery of manatee populations will depend on how well their habitats are protected and restored. As Dr. Brady puts it, manatees are more than just beloved gentle giants- they are vital indicators of the health of the state’s ecosystems. Safeguarding them means safeguarding the future of Florida’s waterways and the communities that rely on them.