Animals

Florida Lawmakers Want Manatees Again Listed As Endangered

WUFT | By Associated Press

Published April 17, 2017 at 2:25 PM EDT

Dozens of West Indian manatees gather in January 2014 at the Three Sisters Springs on the Crystal River. Some Florida lawmakers want the species re-listed as endangered following the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service moving it to the threatened category earlier this year. (AP/File)

SARASOTA — Some Florida lawmakers want manatees back on the endangered species list.

Last month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that the large marine mammal was now considered "threatened" instead of endangered because its population had increased.

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Florida, wrote Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke last week, asking him to overturn that decision. According to a statement from the Sarasota Republican's office, 10 other representatives from Florida from both parties also signed the letter.

The letter said the wildlife service's decision was "potentially very harmful to the survival of the iconic Florida animal." It also said state and local officials could consider weakening manatee protections such as slow-speed boating zones because of the wildlife service's decision.

There's an estimated population of 6,620 manatees in Florida.