It’s hard to fathom the folks at Save the Manatee Club. Members rant and rave about the damage recreational fishermen and boaters inflict on the manatee population. Yet, few mention water quality problems and the potential devastation for the animals.

The Citizen’s for Florida’s Waterways newsletter published these numbers that reflect the killing ways of red tide on manatees: “Red tide that moved ashore from Fort Myers to St. Petersburg in December 2004 claimed 47 manatees.”

The Venice Gondolier Sun upped that figure. “…counting the number of manatees that have died in the last six years from red tide poisoning; over four hundred.”

FS