When the Seagrass Disappeared

Let’s travel back in time to Florida, to a calm, clear morning in the 1970s on the Indian River Lagoon. The riverfront is bustling with activity. Fishermen and local families are traveling in small boats to town docks and bait shops.

Just below the surface are dozens of manatees swimming among the seagrass. These gentle giants glide past, coming up for air with their whiskered snouts every few minutes.

Today, that scene has become rare. A seagrass crisis has occurred.

A Vanishing Food Source

Over the years, humans have polluted the waterways, triggering algae blooms. The murky water blocked the sunlight from reaching the plants below. In some parts of the lagoon, nearly all of the seagrass disappeared, causing manatees to starve. These herbivores can grow up to 13 feet and weigh 3,500 pounds, so they eat enormous amounts of food every day. Without enough seagrass, they were dying.

The year 2021 brought staggering losses. Over 1,100 manatees died. Many survivors were dangerously thin, with rib bones visible through their thick, wrinkled skin. In 2022, hundreds more deaths occurred.

Photo “Manatee Feed” by Florida Fish and Wildlife. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Floating Salad Bar

Florida wildlife officials responded with an unusual plan. After studying the problem and weighing short- and long-term solutions, they launched a carefully controlled feeding trial. During the winter months, officials and volunteers provided thousands of pounds of leafy greens, mostly romaine lettuce. It was like a floating salad bar.

The effort helped many manatees through a dangerous time. On some days, as many as 800 gathered, bobbing and snuffling at the surface. Over two winters, they ate more than 600,000 pounds of leafy greens. That is about 300 tons, or roughly 300 to 400 pickup truck loads.

Beyond the Lettuce Launch

The lettuce launch helped, but everyone knew that solution was temporary. Long-term repair would require government involvement. In 2021, Florida pledged $8 million to restore important manatee habitats, including warm-water springs where they congregate in cold weather. The funding also supported cleaning waterways, replanting seagrass seedlings, reducing pollution, and improving water quality.

Photo “Manatee Feeding” by Florida Fish and Wildlife. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Scientists, conservation groups, and trained volunteers worked together. Some planted tiny seedlings one by one, hoping the lagoon would become healthy enough for seagrass to grow again.

Hope Below the Surface

Those efforts are beginning to show signs of progress. The manatees seem to be making a comeback, but the danger hasn’t disappeared. They still face boat strikes, cold snaps, red tides, fishing gear entanglements, and habitat loss.

If you ever visit Florida and spot a manatee gliding below the surface, take a moment and watch. Beneath that quiet movement is a bigger story about water, food, and survival.

Each patch of seagrass and clean stretch of lagoon makes a difference to these peaceful creatures. With every seedling planted, new roots take hold, and so does the hope that manatees will once again find enough to eat in the waters they call home.

Adaptation of “Sunrise over the Indian River Lagoon” by Michael Seeley. Licensed under CC BY 2.0.

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