361 Manatees die in Florida waters

MIAMI, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Through Dec. 19, 361 endangered manatees died in Florida waters this year, but only 70 of them died from boat propellers.

The death toll was the highest on record, but the boating deaths were the lowest since 1998, the Fort Myers News-Press reported Wednesday.

The record of 415 deaths came in 1996, when red tide plagued the Florida Gulf Coast. The low figure for boating deaths was 66 in 1998.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was not sure for the reason for the total number of deaths. Officials said the reduction in boating deaths may be because of speed restrictions in manatee areas.

The commission tries to do a census of manatees, but an accurate count is almost impossible because weather determines their location.

The count was a record 3,276 in 2001, fell to 1,796 in 2002 and went back up to 3,001 in 2003. The counts are taken early in the year.