Manatees, typically found in Florida’s warm waters, are seeking refuge from a recent cold snap by congregating near the warm water discharge of a power plant in Riviera Beach. This behavior highlights the sensitivity of these gentle giants to environmental changes, particularly fluctuations in water temperature.
The Florida Power & Light Company’s plant, home to the Manatee Lagoon attraction, has become a haven for these creatures. The warm, clean water discharged from the plant provides a welcome respite from the unusually chilly temperatures brought on by a recent polar vortex that impacted much of the United States, including Florida. These large marine mammals, which can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh over 1,000 pounds, are accustomed to the balmy waters of their Florida habitat. The recent dip in temperatures has driven them to seek warmer environments.
“Manatees serve as a crucial indicator species in Florida, responding to environmental shifts and water quality issues,” Rachel Shanker, an education manager at Manatee Lagoon, explained to the Associated Press. Their presence near the power plant underscores the impact of temperature variations on their behavior and well-being.
This isn’t the first time Florida’s manatees have faced hardship. In recent years, a significant loss of seagrass, their primary food source, due to algal blooms led to a mass starvation event. This resulted in a record number of manatee deaths in 2021, prompting the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to implement emergency feeding programs using romaine lettuce. Conservation groups even took legal action against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services for perceived inadequacies in manatee protection.
Shanker highlighted the manatees’ reliance on the power plant’s warm water discharge, explaining that while the plant’s vicinity lacks abundant seagrass, the manatees utilize the warm water for thermoregulation. They then venture out to find seagrass beds to feed before returning to the warm discharge when temperatures drop. Importantly, the water discharged from the plant is simply warmed ocean water, not chemically altered.
Fortunately, seagrass levels off the Atlantic coast have shown signs of recovery, positively impacting the manatee population. While the manatee population remains threatened and vulnerable to environmental changes and natural disasters, the decrease in mortality rates in 2024 compared to recent years offers a glimmer of hope for their continued survival. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reports 565 manatee deaths in 2024, significantly lower than the five-year average of 739. This improvement suggests positive progress, though continued conservation efforts are essential to ensure the long-term health of this iconic Florida species.
