Manatees swim near a boat in Florida. 33karen33 / iStock / Getty Images Plus The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has proposed new revisions and additions to critical habitats for West Indian manatees near Florida and Puerto Rico. The proposal includes a revised 1,904,191 acres for Florida manatees plus new habitat protections spanning 78,121 acres for Puerto Rico manatees. “The Service is dedicated to the recovery and protection of manatees, which face significant threats such as declining food sources and water pollution,” southeast regional director Mike Oetker said in a statement . “Critical habitat designations ensure that federal agencies and the public are informed of the species habitat needs and better able to reduce threats and contribute to their long-term survival.” Manatees approach a snorkeler in Florida’s Crystal River. Stuart Westmorland / CORBIS / Corbis via Getty Images As Inside Climate News reported, nearly 2,000 Florida manatees died from 2021 to 2022, and another 130 manatee calves have died in 2024. Part of the threat to these manatees is pollution , which has affected their food sources. Officials began a program to feed manatees seagrasses in 2021, which was deemed a success in 2022. The proposal for new habitat protections focuses on seagrass as an essential element for the manatees’ survival, particularly for the Antillean manatee found near Puerto Rico. But other threats loom for the vulnerable manatees. USFWS noted that habitat loss, coastal development and human interactions, including boat strikes, all threaten these animals. Climate change, which can contribute to algal blooms, is also a threat to the manatees. Further, climate change can contribute to increasing frequency and strength of hurricanes, such as Hurricane Helene currently moving through the Gulf Coast. As USA Today reported, hurricanes can cause manatee strandings , and they are also at risk […]