You must enable cookies for this web site to function properly. Take Action for Manatees! Ask Governor DeSantis to Stop the Degradation of Florida Waterways The Issue: Florida’s waterways are in crisis and manatees are unmistakable victims. 2021 was the deadliest year on record for manatees, and 2022 is turning out to be equally horrific. On the Atlantic coast, they have died of starvation as the seagrass habitats they depend on for survival have disappeared, leaving them with nothing to eat. On the Gulf coast, manatees are dying due to acute toxicity from red tide. Harmful algal blooms throughout Florida are wreaking havoc on our waterways and our economy. What You Can Do: Please take a couple of minutes and urge Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to veto SB 1000, which places the interest of the citrus industry above all others that rely on clean water and waterways. Ask him to ensure funding for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission so they can conduct essential manatee research and management responsibilities. Recipients Governor Ron D. DeSantis Contact *Required fields * Title: Mr. Ms. Mrs. Miss Dr. * First Name: * Last Name: * Your Email: * Address 1: Address 2: * City: * State / Province: Choose a State AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY AS FM GU MH MP PR PW VI * ZIP / Postal Code: * Phone Number: Yes, I would like to receive periodic updates and communications from Save the Manatee Club. I would prefer not to share my personal information with Save the Manatee Club. Message Protect aquatic habitat and help distressed manatees Dear [Decision Maker], * Personalize your message Florida's waterways are in crisis, and manatees are unmistakable victims. The year 2021 was the deadliest year on record for manatees, and 2022 is proving to be just as tragic. On the Atlantic coast, hundreds of manatees died of starvation because the seagrass habitats they depend on for survival have been devastated by Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) caused by too much human-fueled pollution, leaving them with little to eat. On the Gulf coast, manatees have died due to acute toxicity from red tide. Harmful algal blooms throughout Florida are wreaking havoc on our waterways and our economy. Hundreds of imperiled manatees have died in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), one of Florida's most important estuaries. . As the direct result of human derelictions over many decades, the lagoon has lost more than 90% in seagrass biomass from a high of over77,000 acres. In addition to being a primary food source for manatees, seagrass meadows are one of the most biologically-diverse ecosystems in the world. They supply food and shelter to seahorses, sea turtles, marine mammals, and birds, as well as commercially and recreationally-important fish that are vital to our economy. It is estimated that the IRL alone generates over $7 billion annually to the local economy, a contribution that is now in imminent jeopardy by this ongoing crisis. As a citizen and member of Save the Manatee Club, I urge you to take immediate action to stop the degradation of our waterways and hold polluters accountable. We appreciate your leadership in forming the Blue Green Algae Task Force and implore you to continue supporting the Task Force's efforts by fully implementing their recommendations. Specifically, we ask that you veto SB 1000, which places the interest of the citrus industry above all others that rely on clean water and waterways, as well as the species that inhabit them. It lacks provisions to require precision application of additional fertilizers, is silent on how the potential impact to offsite water quality will be monitored in order to inform Best Management Practices in the future, and diminishes the role of University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF-IFAS) by placing authority in a certified professional program that is focused only on maximizing yield. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has the ability to review and modify Basin Management Plan (BMP) manuals or adopt interim measures at any time and does not need additional legislation to do so. The UF-IFAS Extension has the same latitude to review fertilizer application rates and the BMP process requires representation from governmental, industry, and environmental stakeholders. Across all sectors, we must close the loopholes that have allowed excessive pollution to continue and focus on investing in projects that prevent, rather than remove, nutrient pollutants. Finally, we appreciate your robust support of additional funding for manatees in 2021 and your continued leadership in ensuring the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will continue to receive the resources and staffing necessary to carry out its historically-strong role as the lead coordinator and supporting partner of the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership. Because of increasing demands on the FWC overall, more funding is needed to ensure its essential manatee research and management responsibilities continue. These include conducting necropsies and biological testing that reveal the different causes behind why so many manatees are dying. With the current devastation of manatee forage in the Indian River Lagoon, continued research and coordination is especially critical for the foreseeable future. Understanding the causes and cures for the collapse of seagrasses and other forage need emergency priority. Thank you again for understanding that manatees are an essential species within our aquatic ecosystems. Improving water quality, protecting and restoring the seagrasses upon which so many species depend, and providing care for sick and injured manatees must be given a higher priority if we are to reverse these devastating losses. Sincerely,