Current status is Federally Endangered
The FWC received a petition to re-evaluate the status of the
Florida manatee in 2001. A biological assessment following
the listing process rules was initiated. However, a listing
moratorium was initiated in 2003 and the listing process rules were
changed in April 2005. Following the new process, a
biological status report was completed, reviewed by independent
peer reviewers, and presented to the Commission at the June 2006
Commission meeting. The Commission agreed that
reclassification of the Florida manatee from Endangered to
Threatened is warranted; however the reclassification will not
occur until a management plan for the species is approved. Public
comment was sought and incorporated on a draft and again on a
revised draft management plan. The Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission has finalized the manatee management plan
based on input received. The final plan was scheduled to be
presented for approval at the September Commission meeting, however
Governor Charlie Crist asked the Commission to defer the
decision. Staff from FWC will work with the Governor's office
to address the Governor's concerns and then bring the plan for
approval at a future Commission meeting.
In 2010, the Commission approved new rules for listing imperiled
species and the manatee was listed as Federally Endangered in
Florida.
Please view our Listing Process for more information on
the listing process moratorium and changes. Below is a link
to the petition that was received in 2001 and the Biological Status
Report, the final manatee management plan, the powerpoint
presentation for the Commission meeting about the management plan,
and the letter from Governor Crist.
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