If the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reclassifies the Florida manatee from endangered to threatened, will it also eliminate protections?
No. The categories in Floridas listed species rule describe the relative risk of extinction, not the level of protection. Prior to any reclassification, a manatee management plan will be developed that incorporates protections to foster the continued recovery of the species. The plan could take a year or longer to develop, during which the FWC will seek both professional and public input. This plan will propose protections necessary to guide species recovery. In addition, the manatee is federally protected under both the Endangered Species Act (http://endangered.fws.gov/whatwedo.html#General) and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/laws/mmpa/), and the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act (370.12 (2), Florida Statutes) specifically provides protection for manatees that is independent of, and not contingent upon, its status as a listed species in the state of Florida.
