Counting 'em Down: For better or for worse, this is the Headline Surfer countdown of 2021's Top 100 biggest news stories of Central Florida along the tourism-driven stretch of Interstate 4 (Orlando Attractions and east to I-95 & the World's Most Famous Beach in Daytona). Each recap segment is posted with its own headline, culminating with the unveiling of No. 1. Each segment includes a 2022 update.
Photos for Headline Surfer / ABOVE: Starvation caused by pollution in the water has killed record numbers of manatees. LEFT: A manatee is shown swimming in the warm waters of Blue Spring State Park in Orange City in the winter months.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- 2021 was a bad year for Florida manatees with a record number of deaths along the east and west coasts.
The statistic is grim: From Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2021, there were 1,101 reported manatee deaths in the state — nearly double the five-year average -- with most dying of starvation, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported startling numbers for manatee deaths in 2021, That starvation all came down to one main factor: "We’ve had such severe loss of seagrasses and that’s directly related to too much nitrogen pollution,” says Rose.
“The most significant factor in increased mortality in 2021 was a source we’ve never really had before - and that is starvation,” explains Patrick Rose, executive director for the "Save the Manatee Club."
That starvation all came down to one main factor, Rose told Fox4 TV of Southwest Florida: "We’ve had such severe loss of seagrasses and that’s directly related to too much nitrogen pollution."
Most manatee deaths have occurred in Indian River Lagoon, an estuary stretching more than 150 miles down the middle of Florida’s east coast. Here, decades of pollution from farm fertilizers and residential developments have killed off vast swaths of seagrass that are manatees’ main food source.
Most manatee deaths have occurred in Indian River Lagoon, an estuary stretching more than 150 miles down the middle of Florida’s east coast. Here, decades of pollution from farm fertilizers and residential developments have killed off vast swaths of seagrass that are manatees’ main food source.
Further north on the St. Johns in October 2021, the St. Johns Riverkeeper found the level of algae bloom toxins 300 times higher than the safe level for swimming. And further south in the Indian River Lagoon, the water management district says nearly 50,000 acres of seagrass -- vanished.
Manatee advocates are now suing the Environmental Protection Agency, claiming that when it comes to water quality standards, they're doing the exact opposite of their name.
In December, an unprecedented program to save the manatees began.
Feeding manatees is illegal under state and federal law, but teams with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have permission to feed the manatees. They are distributing thousands of pounds of romaine lettuce near the Cape Canaveral power plant.
For more on what you can personally do to help save the manatees, FWC suggests the following, which can improve water quality:
- Eliminate the use of lawn chemicals (e.g., fertilizer, pesticide);
- Pick up dog waste;
- Don’t blow leaves and grass clippings into the street or gutters; leave them on your lawn;
- Wash your car on the grass or use a commercial car wash;
- Switch from septic systems to municipal sewer;
- Update and repair septic systems if a municipal sewer is unavailable;
- Plant a Florida native yard: https://myfwc.com/viewing/habitat/certify/;
- Participate in living shoreline restoration of oysters and mangroves.
About the Byline Writer: Henry Frederick is a member of the working press and publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched in 2008, that serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando from Lake Mary, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed close to 150 award-winning bylines in print & online. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in 2019. He was a breaking news reporter (metro cops & courts beat) for the Daytona Beach News-Journal for nearly a decade. And Before that worked the same beat for The Journal-News/Gannett Suburban Newspapers in Rockland/Westchester counties, NY, dating back to 1989. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and covering other high profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary shows on Discovery ID, Reelz, and the Oxygen Network series "Snapped" for his analysis. • Award-Winning Journalism: Florida Press Club recognizes Headline Surfer for nine stories in 2020 statewide competition. • Award-Winning Journalism of Henry Frederick.