CHAPTER IX 



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 1986, the Commission 

 continued to concentrate efforts 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 bowhead whale, the right whale, and 

 the humpback whale. Attention also was focused on the 

 endangered, and perhaps extinct, Caribbean monk seal, the 

 harbor porpoise in California, and the five species of river 

 dolphins. 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 mammals found in the coastal waters of the 

 United States. The largest concentration in this country, 

 and perhaps the world, is found in Florida where the 

 population is estimated to number something more than 1,200 

 animals. Although this figure is slightly higher than 

 previously thought, there is still serious concern for the 

 long-term survival of the manatee population because of high 

 mortality levels. Despite continued efforts by Federal and 

 State agencies and private organizations to reduce this 

 level, known manatee mortality in the United States over the 

 past five years has averaged well over 100 animals per a 

 year. Among the most serious threats to the Florida 

 population are increasing levels of boat traffic and 

 associated collisions between manatees and boats, the loss of 

 large numbers of manatees to thermal stress during periods of 

 cold weather, and the continuing degradation and destruction 

 of essential manatee habitat due to coastal and riparian 

 development and other human activities. 



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