FWC: Over 25 Tons Of Lettuce Fed To Manatees

Daytona Beach, FL – A new report from the state’s Wildlife Conservation Commission says efforts to feed Florida’s ailing manatee population have provided the gentle giants with over 25 tons of lettuce. In an update released on Wednesday (Feb. 16), the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said their feeding programs have so far attracted a few hundred manatees a day in some spots. A feeding site at a Florida Power & Light plant on the state’s Atlantic coast sees around 350 manatees a day. Sometimes it can see as many as 800 manatees in a day, or as little as 60. Either way, officials are confident that their feeding program is making a difference. The programs are also inspiring residents to help, with some expressing an interest in helping feed manatees. But therein lies a problem, as wildlife officials often discourage people from feeding wild animals—as animals can associate humans with food. It’s also against state law to feed manatees, which remain classified as a vulnerable species. There’s even a debate on whether or not they should be feeding manatees lettuce in the first place. Local business owner and marine animal advocate Lauralee Thompson says lettuce offers little to no nutrition when compared to what manatees were eating: seagrass. But seagrass, or the lack thereof, is one of the problems the state is trying to tackle.  This is because of algae blooms created by pollutants such as pesticides and fertilizer runoff. The algae bloom can then get thick enough to block sunlight from reaching the seagrass, essentially crippling the manatees’ food supply. Thompson herself took to the water last week and said she didn’t see any seagrass anywhere. “I rode the shore across from the power plant where the manatees are and there is not one shred of seagrass,” said Thompson. “The bottom looks like the desert.” Earlier this year, the state House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee submitted a $13.8 million proposal to help fuel Florida’s efforts to help manatees. According to Committee Chairwoman Josie Tomkow, the money will go towards paying a dozen full-time employees who can respond to manatee-related issues. Around $8 million of that proposal will also go towards efforts to restore the state’s disappearing grass beds. That will be a long-term project, as you can’t just plant seagrass when you have water quality issues to deal with. That’s also another problem the state plans to address. While you can’t feed manatees, there are other ways you can help, like feeding them your cash instead (figuratively speaking). FWC is encouraging residents to instead donate to sponsored entities, like the Marine Mammal Fund, and report any sick or ailing manatees to the state.