CHAPTER II 



SPECIES OF SPECIAL CONCERN 



The Marine Mammal Commission, in consultation with its 

 Committee of Scientific Advisors on Marine Mammals, reviews 

 the status of marine mammal populations and makes recommen- 

 dations on necessary research and management actions as well 

 as on designations with respect to the status of species or 

 populations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the 

 Endangered Species Act. During 1987, the Commission continued 

 to concentrate on several species of marine mammals designated 

 as endangered or threatened, including the West Indian manatee, 

 the Hawaiian monk seal, the California sea otter population, 

 the humpback whale, the right whale, and the bowhead whale. 

 Given the serious condition of several other marine mammal 

 species or populations, the Commission also focused on the North 

 Pacific fur seal, the northern sea lion, harbor porpoise in 

 California, the Gulf of California harbor porpoise, Hector's 

 dolphin, the five species of river dolphins, and dugongs in 

 Palau. A review of the Commission's activities regarding 

 these species and populations follows. 



West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) 



The West Indian manatee is one of the most endangered 

 species of marine mammal in the nearshore coastal waters of 

 the United States. The largest concentration in this country, 

 and perhaps the world, is the population in Florida. It is 

 estimated to number more than 1,2 00 animals. Despite nearly 

 a decade of concerted effort by Federal and State agencies 

 and private organizations to protect manatees and their habi- 

 tat in Florida, long-term survival of the population remains 

 in doubt. This uncertainty is based, in large part, on the 

 small size of the Florida manatee population, the increasing 

 pace at which its habitat is being altered and destroyed due 

 to coastal development, and the population's continued high 

 mortality rate. Over the past four years, known manatee mor- 

 tality in the United States has averaged 126 animals per year. 



In the years 1977, 1981, 1984, and 1985, large numbers 

 of manatees died as a result of thermal stress during periods 

 of extreme cold. However, a more constant and growing threat 

 to the survival of manatees in Florida is linked to the rapid 

 growth of the State's human population, 90 percent of which 

 live within 10 miles of the coast. With a population increasing 

 at a rate of 800 residents a day, Florida recently became the 

 fourth most populous state in the nation. By the year 2 000, 

 it is expected to rank third. 



