A new showdown is brewing over manatee protection. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is fighting back on a ruling requiring Florida to step up protections. It involves a series of ...

Today we’re looking at new developments in stories featured in two previous columns. And fair warning: Both are pretty depressing. In one case, Florida has decided to fight a court ruling that ordered ...

Florida's manatees faced near-record deaths for young sea cows in 2025, but also saw seagrass recovery, new legal protections, and scientific breakthroughs offering hope for the future.

Editor’s note: The print edition of this editorial misidentified the biologist who invented the manatee scar charts. Earlier this year, the state of Florida showed up in court, demanding an ...

76 manatees have died from boat strikes this year, the highest number in five years. Perinatal deaths are the leading cause of manatee deaths this year, surpassing boat strikes. While more manatees ...

It is illegal to touch, feed, or give water to West Indian manatees. Manatees are protected by state and federal laws, including the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978. Violating laws protecting ...