West Indian manatees in Florida face increasing mortality from harmful algal blooms (red tides) that kill seagrass and directly poison manatees through brevetoxin exposure. Climate change is increasing red tide frequency and severity.
Manatees dying from starvation experience progressive emaciation over weeks as seagrass resources are eliminated. Brevetoxin poisoning causes acute neurological symptoms including disorientation, seizures, and inability to maintain buoyancy. Starvation events leave surviving manatees severely compromised going into winter, creating additional cold stress during the cooler months when manatees congregate at warm water outflows. The welfare crisis is ongoing and driven by water quality failures.