By: Capt. Jim Kalvin
B
ig news last month as the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service declared, according to their extensive scientific data, that the manatee should no longer be classified as endangered. While this is great news, not everyone is celebrating. There will very likely be a challenge or two to this finding, as there are many who refuse to accept that the status of the manatee has changed. The lynch-pin of the species assessment has been the aerial synoptic survey – which is counting the animals from airplanes in known winter gathering sites. Some years were higher than others, some lower than others for various reasons – mainly due to cold weather events, or a mildly warm winter season. But over the past 43 years, once the data is averaged, the minimum observed population has increased by “a lot” to put it scientifically. In the mid 70’s, the aerial synoptic survey counted 744 animals, and cries of extinction rang through the halls of the capital in Tallahassee and in Washington. As the aerial counts began to grow over the following years, the paid advocate contingent claimed that there aren’t really any more animals; we’re just getting better with counting techniques. As counts continued to grow, and the animals were seen in areas previously never visited by the manatees, this claim was harder to believe – yet the claim continued. The advocate contingent refused to say that the manatee population was growing. At the same time, boating groups were pointing out that seagrass was disappearing in all known manatee wintering areas. Fakaunion Canal, Gullivan Bay and Rookery Bay in Collier, the Orange River, Caloosahatchee River, Pine Island Sound and Estero Bay in Lee County, Lemon Bay and the Peace River in Charlotte County and other Gulf Coast areas from Tampa to Crystal River all experienced the same phenomenon. On the East Coast, the Banana River and Indian River Lagoon
and points south through Palm Beach, Broward, Dade and Monroe Counties all experienced the same thing. Seagrasses were disappearing. With individual animals eating between 150 and 200 pounds of seagrass daily, a herd of several hundred manatees can consume between 15 and 20 tons of vegetation each day. Now consider that we have a minimum observed count of 6,620 manatees in 2017 – meaning that there are many, many more – and the daily consumption is staggering. Something is happening in our estuaries, fish, shrimp and crustaceans are disappearing. Bait stocks are at historic lows. Water quality is degrading. However, the grasses are not coming back, as they are being eaten faster than they can grow. The manatees continue the expansion of their range in search of food. Moving from one thermal pollution fallout area to the next as they forage northward, they are going to go wherever they can eat and stay warm. As the USFWS is the leading agency with respect to protected and endangered species management, the science is there. The history of the population assessments was in black and white and in third-party user format. The facts were as plain as day. This is not, and was never, an animal that is or was dwindling in number – it is a species that is robustly growing and expanding. However, the service would not act on its’ own science. Politics of the day, wink-and-nod lawsuits and non-governmental organization pressure forced the service to ignore the obvious and treat the species as endangered. The citizens group Save Crystal River had to sue the agency to get them to act on their own science. Represented by the Pacific Legal Foundation, the case drew the ire of many who make their living off of the extinction myth. Now that the service has found that manatees are not an endangered species, counter legal action is very likely.
In the mean-time, the health of our estuaries hangs in the balance. Are we going to continue to pursue a single-species initiative that seeks only to celebrate thermal pollution, breed more manatees and move them into an ever-broadening range? Or are we going to look at real issues such as loss of seagrass habitat, estuarine degradation and the impact of giant herbivores moving into new areas? Boating Advocates have been asking serious questions for decades, only to be chided, ridiculed and bullied by some in the scientific community, and virtually all of the NGO’s who choose to use the Endangered Species Act as a growth control tool. It is time to admit that we have serious issues in our waterways including farm runoff, red tide, habitat loss and many other potential problems. However, having “too few
manatees” is not a realistic claim. Standing Watch would like to encourage the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission to follow the lead of the service, and remove the endangered status from a state perspective as well. Maybe then we can utilize available funding and human resources to work on a holistic approach to aquatic resource management throughout Florida. Leave the politics and the social engineering out of it, and let the science speak for itself. Join Standing Watch and help us help you preserve your rights of access to Florida’s aquatic resources. Go to standingwatch.net or send membership info to P.O. Box 990399 Naples, Florida, 34116. Like and follow our Facebook page as we continue to monitor the 2017 Legislative session. Emails can go to james.kalvin61@gmail.com
Kids Summer Saltwater Fishing School June 10 & 11th or July 8 & 9th
Call Capt. Sergio Atanes at (813) 973-7132 for more information
T
he future of fishing is in the hands of the younger generations. Just as I went on my first fishing trip at the age of four and got hooked, I want every kid to experience the thrill of catching fish and enjoy this great outdoor hobby. Any child can become an angler, maybe someday a professional angler, but who knows unless he or she has a chance at it. Classes are limited to 25 future Jr. Anglers plus parent or guardian. Day 1: Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday class one is held inside, hands on basics of fishing are taught. This includes everything from knot tying to tackle selection. Our staff of four professional full time captains will then cover their techniques on how to catch snook, redfish, speckled
trout, tarpon and Spanish mackerel. Day 2: Sunday 10 a.m. to Noon Sunday we meet at Picnic Island Fishing Pier for hands on fishing and how to throw a bait net. We will supply the nets, sooner or later we will need to catch our own bait so here is a great start. There will also be a how to fish with artificial baits segment. Just bring your favorite fishing rod, if you don’t own one we will have some to use. Saturday class to be held at: Southeastern Tackle Liquidators 2907 N. Florida Ave. Tampa, FL 33602 Sunday class to be held at: Picnic Island Fishing Pier Cost includes lunch on Saturday and Jr. Angler fishing goodie pail with fishing tackle from sponsors.
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