Florida on pace for record number of manatees killed by boats

Florida's on pace to smash a manatee record, but it's not a good one.

71 manatees have been killed by boats so far this year in the Sunshine State, according to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.

If that pace continues, it'll break the current state record of 97 set back in 2009. 58  manatees were killed by boats at the same time that year.

There have been eight manatees killed locally by boat strikes as of July 22nd, according to the latest FWC manatee mortality report.

Three of those deaths were in Saint Johns and Putnam counties, while two were reported in Duval.

Lee leads all 67 Florida counties with 11, followed by Volusia and Monroe with seven, Collier with six and Brevard with five.

Experts blame the rise on cheaper gas and an improving economy as well as a milder winter and a hotter summer than normal, leading to more boats on the state's waterways.

Some also blame the state's water pollution issues - including algae blooms - with reducing manatee habitat, leading them to areas where they're more likely to be hit by a boat.

The US Fish & Wildlife Service is considering moving manatees from endangered to threatened after over 6,000 were counted during flyovers in Florida each of the past two years.