State not planning to feed manatees this winter

RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Experts have made a key decision affecting manatees.

Unlike the past two winters when many manatees were starving, the state has decided not to feed them this winter.

When the weather cools off, manatees come to places like FPL's Riviera Beach Next Generation Clean Energy Center to enjoy the flow of warm water from the facility on the Intracoastal Waterway.

Experts say statewide, manatees are doing a little better now in terms of their health and the state no longer needs to feed them to prevent keep them from starving.

"I think that's wonderful news!" said Sophie Delapaz, a Loxahatchee resident.

Delapaz, a home school teacher from Loxahatchee, brought a couple of her students along to see the manatees at FPL's Manatee Lagoon.

"If there's enough seagrass growing that shows the environment is healthy and thriving and the manatees will no longer need to rely on humans to feed them so that's wonderful news," she said.

State and federal wildlife experts have decided not to feed manatees lettuce this winter.

For the past two years, they had to feed them to get them through the winter months, to prevent them from starving due to the loss of seagrass, their natural food source.

"Fortunately we're now seeing most of them in better health and we've seen some natural recovery of seagrasses," said Patrick Rose, an aquatic biologist and Exec. Director of Save the Manatee Club in Longwood, Florida.

"Is this good news for the manatee population that the decision is we won't have to feed them this winter?" we asked Rose.

"It is certainly better news but it's very touch and go as far as how well those seagrass communities will continue to grow," Rose said.

Experts say the past two winters have been devastating for manatees in Florida.

See also: VIDEO: Report of explosion, driver escapes massive fuel tanker fire on Turnpike

With seagrass beds disappearing they had so little to eat, many starved to death.

About 800 manatees died statewide last year in Florida, and 1100 died the year before.

Now they're coming into the winter months healthier and the seagrass is starting to recover in some parts of the state.

"By no means are we dealing with a lot of fat manatees. It's not like they're really back in optimal health," Rose said.

Manatees are protected by state and federal law and are listed as a threatened species.

There are believed to be about 9,000 manatees in Florida.

"Why would you say it's the right move to not feed them this winter?" we asked Rose.

"Well I think it's most important to allow the manatees to move and forage and find the forage they need where they need to find it. And they've done that for millions of years," he said.

Some feel the state should not drop the manatee feeding program.

"Now that they're starting to show a little improvement this would be I think the wrong time to cut back. Let's keep 'em prospering and keep their numbers improving," said Julie King, a visitor at Manatee Lagoon from Annapolis, MD.

"I think they should keep feeding them and ensure that they're coming back," said John King, another visitor from Annapolis who came to watch manatees at Manatee Lagoon.

Rose says wildlife experts will carefully monitor the manatee population this winter. He says state and federal agencies will keep the logistics in place and they'll be ready to quickly start the program again to feed manatees lettuce if it's necessary.

Some of the lettuce that was used to feed manatees last winter came from a commercial grower in Belle Glade.