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Manatee habitat review planned

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 3, 2009

MIAMI - It has been more than 30 years since federal wildlife managers formally mapped the places where endangered manatee live in Florida. On Tuesday, they acknowledged it's probably time for an update.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it will consider reassessing critical habitat for the manatee, a process that could fill some gaping holes.

Among the places left out of an original designation, done in 1976: natural springs, water basins around power plants that serve as winter havens for sea cows and two entire counties in a major manatee corridor, St. Lucie and Indian River. Boat strikes killed 11 manatees in Indian River and six in St. Lucie last year.

Chuck Underwood, a spokesman for the service, said the decision is mostly about updating science and would not affect coastal development or public access.

McClatchy-Tribune

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