Volume 238, March 17, 2023

Relist the manatee as an endangered species, not as threatened.


The North American manatee, the majestic marine mammal that winter along the Florida coast, is in trouble. These giant aquatic herbivores spend as much as 8 hours a day feeding on sea vegetation, so manatees have earned the nickname "sea cows." They can consume four to nine percent of their body weight in seagrass daily.


During the summer, Florida manatees live as far west as Texas and north as Massachusetts. They gather in the warm water along the coast of Florida during the cold winter months. Many take thermal refuge in waters warmed by power plants and industrial plants. During the winter, they cease their seasonal migration movement, overconsume the local seagrass, wander into colder water, and are stressed.


Nutrients (fertilizers, septic, and sewage) wash into the water to cause harmful algae blooms that kill the seagrass. A boom-and-bust cycle is put in motion, where the algae bloom is followed by a bust when bacteria consume dead algae and deplete oxygen to create ocean dead zones. Grass cannot compete with phytoplankton dominance, and manatees die.


In Indian River Lagoon, the manatees must forage far from warm water pockets because 90% of the seagrass, about 350 square miles, has been lost to pollution and propellor damage. As a result, hundreds of manatees are starving each winter.


In 2017, the EPA downgraded the Florida manatee from endangered to threatened. The increase in manatee deaths over the past few years makes clear that the time has come to relist the Florida manatee as endangered.


Will you sign the petition and tell the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to relist the Florida manatee as endangered?


In Florida, there were 1200 manatee deaths in 2021 and over 800 reported manatee deaths in 2022. These numbers are just carcasses found. Due to their dense bone structure, dead manatees sink and may not be counted. The number of dead in 2022 is down partially due to conservation efforts such as feeding them romaine lettuce at power plants.


Florida manatees are an essential part of Florida's ecosystem, much like buffalo were for grasslands. By moving about, manatees keep vegetation from becoming overgrown, help reduce invasive species, and keep waterways clear and flowing. Florida's canals are choked with weeds and could use some manatee weed munchers to restore their health and flow.


We must do more to protect these gentle giants. Urge decision-makers to relist North American manatees as endangered species. This listing will obligate the government to do more to rescue manatees—perhaps a manatee drive, moving them to greener pastures. Yee-haw, little dogies!


Sign our petition today and tell the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to relist the Florida manatee as endangered!

Manatees need you to act in small ways.


You can help us go the distance to help whales by joining ORI’s Round-up Change Program.


Every time you purchase, your credit card will round up to the dollar amount and hold the pennies for ORI. It will be gifted only when at least $10 is accumulated over a month. No funds are transferred if less than $10, and the accumulation process begins again at zero.


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Publications:


"Saving Forests with Carbon Offset Rewards for Not Cutting, Let Forests Grow Old." E The Environmental Magazine, March 14, 2023


"Slowing Water For Greener Neighborhoods." The Environmental Magazine, December 18, 2022


"Speak for the trees: President Biden should protect public forests." Illuminem, December 18, 2022


"Slowing Water for Greener Neighborhoods." Illuminem, December 9, 2022


"Top Gun at COP27. It's not the plane. It's the pilot." The Environmental Magazine, November 29, 2022


"Biden’s game-changing administrative actions for climate at COP27." illuminem Voices, November 19, 2022


"Taking action to improve plight of right whales." Boston Herald, November 9, 2022


"Revival Coffee in Somerville takes up the Natural Lawn Challenge." The Somerville Times, August 27, 2022


"For eco groups, less lawn fertilizer is key to water crisis." By Dustin Luca, Salem News August 12, 2022


More carbon capture, better water retention and greener emerald bracelets for Dedham.” The Dedham Times, August 12, 2022.


“Emerald Bracelets to Solve Three Of The World’s Greatest Environmental Problems.” by Rob Moir, The Environmental Magazine, June 21, 2022


"Of Mousy and Elephantine Cycles, Managing the CLIMATE CRISIS after Glasgow COP26." The Eden, March 2022



“Lincoln resident promotes natural lawn care,” Concord Journal, Aug 3, 2021


Zumi’s host Natural Lawn Care for Healthy Soils Challenge,Ipswich Chronicle Transcript, Aug 10, 2021


Peabody peak capacity generator need not burn fossil fuels,” The Salem News, Aug 5, 2021 


30% preserved or restored by 2030,” The Salem News, Sep 29, 2021


Pogie deaths, a Mystic River mystery,” Boston Herald, Oct 4, 2021


Remember the right whales with a special day,” CommonWealth, Oct 29, 2021


Retreating Arctic Sea Ice, Sea Ice Formation, and the Stronger Flow of the Gulf Stream” Seven Seas November 2021


"Rob Moir, PhD, Science Advocate," Bloomberg Business, April 11, 2022

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