Crist provides salvation for manatees

[gcamp38]

We Did It:

My thanks to each and everyone who signed the petition to Florida Governor Charlie Crist. 28000 signatures and most of them asked to retain the endangered status of the Florida Manatee.

I just learned today that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) deferred the manatee’s status change from Endangered to Threatened. They also directed their staff to undertake a review of the flawed state classification system for ALL imperiled species.

Citing the need for a better method to estimate the manatee population and the record 417 manatee deaths in 2006, Governor Charlie Crist asked the FWC to reject the status change and the Commissioners complied. ”We need to protect these gentle creatures,” said Governor Crist in a recent interview with The Miami Herald.

 

[Dr. Doug Ebersole]

Outstanding news!

 

[Scubakevdm]

So, my understanding was that there were no protections being lost if the status was downgraded... Don't get me wrong, I love manatees and hate fast boats, but what is beneficial to the manatees about this?

 

[Tom Winters]

Ok, so now they're threatened. Now what?

 

[deepstops]

Manatee filets smoked over fresh cut mangrove wood and served with Florida Panther ribs, now that's a meal!!! :11:

In all seriousness, I've heard the West Indian Manatee isn't even native to Florida. Can anyone confirm or deny that??

 

[Scubakevdm]

Manatee filets smoked over fresh cut mangrove wood and served with Florida Panther ribs, now that's a meal!!! :11:

In all seriousness, I've heard the West Indian Manatee isn't even native to Florida. Can anyone confirm or deny that??

I can deny it. There are two subspecies, but the Florida manatee is in fact, indigeonus. The other subspecies occurs around the Carribbean basin in Central and South America, where they are a food source. I've heard that same rumor though.

 

[cinder4320]

So, my understanding was that there were no protections being lost if the status was downgraded... Don't get me wrong, I love manatees and hate fast boats, but what is beneficial to the manatees about this?

Yep you're quite correct. The management plan (that was supposed to accompany the downlisting) was approved. The actual status change was not. So that means the manatee now has the same protections it would have if it was reclassified as threatened.

Its all in the word. People got passionate when they heard that it wouldn't be endangered and usually didn't follow through to see why. The manatee doesn't meet the definition of endangered and therefore they were going to keep protections high and just change it to threatened. The issue will be discussed in the future and a more accurate manatee census is being discussed.

Miranda

 

[100days-a-year]

Oh cr&p,Darwin was thwarted again.

 

[Scubakevdm]

Yep you're quite correct. The management plan (that was supposed to accompany the downlisting) was approved. The actual status change was not. So that means the manatee now has the same protections it would have if it was reclassified as threatened.

Its all in the word. People got passionate when they heard that it wouldn't be endangered and usually didn't follow through to see why. The manatee doesn't meet the definition of endangered and therefore they were going to keep protections high and just change it to threatened. The issue will be discussed in the future and a more accurate manatee census is being discussed.

Miranda

It is my understanding that there actually is no difference between the protections afforded endangered species and the protections afforded threatened species, and that it endangered was a term use to describe population sustainability and mostly meant something to biologists. It sounded like the counts indicated that Florida manatee populations were either stable or growing, and that by definition they were no longer considered endangered. People made alot of noise about the downgrading, and from what I understand, because there was no change in the management of the manatee or any of the laws protecting it they agreed to keep it listed as endangered just to shut everyone up.