2018 was not a positive year for #Florida #Manatee as a record 121 manatees were killed in Florida waters by boaters. According to state figures, the overall number of manatee deaths came close to the record as well.
In 2018, 823 manatee deaths were recorded by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which is only 7 less than the record 830 in 2018 and a huge jump of 285 over 2017’s numbers.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 15 percent of the manatee deaths in 2018 were caused by watercraft.
Toxic red tide is the cause for killing 132 manatees, while Red tide, which is a naturally occurring algae bloom, looks to be the source of an additional 79 deaths.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reports that there are currently between 7,500 and 10,300 manatees currently swimming in Florida waters.
