Manatee and Dugong Welfare | Animal Welfare Hub

Sirenians — manatees and dugongs — are slow-moving, highly vulnerable marine mammals facing boat strikes, entanglement, habitat loss and cold stress as primary welfare threats.

Key Facts

Florida manatees number around 7,500 — the highest count on record after decades of protection
Over 100 manatees died from cold stress in Florida in 2010 during an unusual cold spell
Boat strikes are the leading cause of injury and death in Florida manatees — propeller scars are near-universal
Dugongs are listed as vulnerable globally with around 80,000 remaining
Seagrass bed loss from water quality decline is causing rapid manatee and dugong starvation

Welfare Considerations

Boat strike injuries are extremely painful — propeller lacerations cut through thick hide and blubber to bone. Manatees recover slowly and carry permanent scarring. Cold stress causes physiological shock that is both immediately painful and potentially fatal. The unprecedented red tide and blue-green algae blooms of 2021-2022 killed over 1,000 Florida manatees from starvation as seagrass was killed — one of the largest acute wildlife welfare events in recent US history.

What You Can Do

Observe speed limits in manatee zones and report boat strike injuries to FWC immediately
Support seagrass protection through nutrient reduction advocacy in Florida waterways
Donate to Sea to Shore Alliance or Save the Manatee Club rescue operations
Advocate for expanded warm-water refuge access for manatees during cold weather events