マナティーの死骸急増、今年に入り約５４０頭　米フロリダ州

【マイアミＡＦＰ＝時事】米フロリダ州で、死骸となって見つかるマナティーが急増している。例年は1年間で175頭前後のところ、今年は3か月足らずですでに500頭以上の死骸が発見されており、当局が調査に乗り出している。（写真は資料写真）
　フロリダ魚類・野生生物保存委員会（ＦＷＣ）によると、今年１月１日～３月１９日の間に見つかったマナティーの死骸は５４０頭近くに上り、過去３年間の総数に迫っている。
　ＦＷＣは「調査はまだ続いているが、初期評価に基づく限り、痩せ衰えたマナティーが多いのは餌の減少に起因する可能性が高い」としている。
　水質悪化が藻の異常繁殖を招くことがある。これによりマナティーが食べる海草に日光が届かなくなり、海草は枯死し、マナティーは餌を失う。
　マナティーはかつて絶滅危険度の高い種とみなされていたが、ドナルド・トランプ前大統領が在任中の２０１７年５月にその危険度が引き下げられたため、マナティーが保護を受けられるレベルも下がっている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/03/29-12:06）

Florida authorities are investigating an alarming increase in manatee deaths, after the bodies of more than 500 of the giant marine mammals have been found so far this year -- 349 more than died in all of 2020.
Nearly 540 dead manatees were found in Florida waters just between January 1 and March 19, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
That is almost as many manatee deaths as were counted in the last three years combined. About 175 manatees usually die in Florida every year.
The FWC said in a statement Wednesday that the situation could now be classed as an Unusual Mortality Event (UME).
Preliminary information indicates that a reduction in food availability is a contributing factor, the commission's statement said.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a UME is defined as event that involves a significant die-off of any marine mammal population; and demands immediate response, in accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Many of these sea cows, as they are sometimes known thanks to their size and docile natures, have been found in a state of malnourishment along the central and southern stretch of Florida's Atlantic coast.
While the investigation is ongoing, initial assessments indicate the high number of emaciated manatees is likely due to a decline in food availability, the FWC statement said. Seagrass and macro algae coverage in this region and specifically in the Indian River Lagoon has declined significantly.
Water pollution can cause an excess of algae blooms, which then impede the sun from being able to reach the seagrass the manatees eat -- the plants die and the animals lose a food source.
In cold winter months, manatees are known to congregate in large numbers in the shallow waters of rivers and deltas, looking for warmer temperatures. They depend on seagrass to survive during this time.
Manatees were re-classified from an endangered species to a threatened species in May 2017, early in former president Donald Trump's term.
The change reduced the level of protection the mammals were entitled to.
The current Florida manatee population numbers more than 7,500 individuals.