In the wild, Florida manatees already face threats from cold stress, habitat loss, boat strikes, and other human activities.
Advocates are now concerned about the potential danger manatees could encounter from the Trump administration’s proposed changes to federal enforcement of the Endangered Species Act. Environmentalists say the proposed reductions could threaten the lives of sea cows through further habitat degradation, pollution and the negative impacts of development.
“I’ve spent 50-odd years trying to get[manatees]into places where they can live and be part of a healthy, sustainable ecosystem,” said Pat Rose, executive director of the Save the Manatee Club. “If these changes occur, there will be a big battle ahead.”
The Trump administration says the proposed amendments change how agencies manage species and habitat under the law, not the law itself, and are aimed at curbing “regulatory overreach.”
One of the proposed amendments includes repealing a “blanket rule” that would have given endangered animals and plants, such as the Florida manatee, the same strict protections that are automatically given to animals and plants at greater risk on the endangered species list. Instead, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would be tasked with writing species-specific rules, a process that can be time-consuming and labor-intensive.
Another change would allow for “economic impact considerations” when deciding whether to include an area as protected “critical habitat” for a species, allowing for cost-benefit studies rather than focusing solely on science.
Earlier this year, the FWS also proposed rule changes that would amend the definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act, effectively allowing for modification or degradation of the habitat of endangered species that have historically been protected under the Act.
“If we loosen regulations, if we try to chip away at the framework of this Bedrock Act, if we try to remove critical pieces that are necessary for the Bedrock Act to succeed, we are putting species and their habitats back at risk,” said Katherine Saylor, wildlife advocacy group’s southeast regional director.
Florida manatees were the first to be rescued. Florida State Law of 1893but federal law — The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 established rock protection laws that protect manatees to this day. This includes habitat protection.
The Endangered Species Act has prevented the extinction of approximately 291 species since 1973. Protects over 99% of listed species According to a 2019 study, it is under its protection.
These protective measures helped Florida’s manatees recover from the estimated damage. In 1991, 1,267 manatees There are an estimated 8,350 to 11,730 manatees in the state, based on 2021-2022 Survey.
Although the gentle giant has made a significant recovery in recent decades, the environmental group Defenders of Wildlife says the proposed changes could reduce the Florida manatee’s profitability and push it even closer to becoming an endangered species.
From December 2020 to April 2022, manatees in the Indian River Lagoon experienced “unusual mortality events” (UMEs) due to a lack of food. Too much phosphorus and nitrogen in the estuary as a result of septic tank leaks, wastewater runoff, stormwater runoff, and over-fertilization of lawns led to algae blooms and depleted the natural seagrass that manatees depend on for survival. UME was implicated in the deaths of more than 1,200 manatees.
By now in 2025, of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission To date, nearly 600 manatee deaths have been counted, including 91 from personal watercraft and 130 from perinatal deaths of baby manatees less than 5 feet long.
The concern among manatee advocates is that rolling back habitat protections could worsen habitat loss, which has accelerated dramatically in recent years.
Another proposed change would introduce a two-step process for designating critical habitat that prioritizes currently occupied areas, while creating higher standards for designating unoccupied but potentially critical habitat. Yet another proposal would weaken requirements for cooperation and consultation between government agencies, opening the door for federal agencies to approve resource extraction and development projects without assessing their future impacts on endangered species or their habitat, wildlife advocates say.
“Projects can proceed without paying enough attention to ‘What are the impacts on species’ habitat?’ You can’t mitigate what you don’t measure.” jane davenportSenior Attorney at Defenders of Wildlife. “This is just blinding us to habitat loss, which is one of the top five drivers of extinction.”
US Department of the Interior One official said the changes are aimed at promoting “America’s energy independence” and improving “regulatory predictability.” news release.
“These changes end years of legal confusion and regulatory overreach, provide certainty for states, tribes, landowners, and businesses, and ensure that conservation efforts remain based on sound science and common sense,” Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said in a statement.
Critics argue that the changes will favor industry interests and profits over actual species conservation goals.
“The question is, ‘Who benefits?’ Certainly not of the sort,” Davenport said. “That deregulatory agenda certainly favors the few over the many.”
Saylor said manatees could help show what’s happening in Florida’s broader environment.
“Manatees are an umbrella species and a sentinel species. If manatees are healthy, many other marine species benefit,” she says. “They can also tell us if there are problems with the estuary, watershed or system.”
It’s not just sea cows that are at risk. If manatees benefit, so do the economy, fisheries, and tourism. When ecosystems are damaged, humans are also affected.
“I think some people in Washington have lost sight of the fact that we depend on a healthy ecosystem,” said Elizabeth Fleming, Florida state director for wildlife advocacy groups. “We cannot grow if we breathe polluted air, eat polluted food, and drink polluted water.”
a Public comment period It is currently open until Dec. 22 for the public to weigh in on the proposed amendments to the Endangered Species Act. Comments can be made by visiting federalregister.gov/agency/fish-and-wildlife-service.
please find me @PConnPie on Instagram Or send an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com.
