Environmental Groups Seek , to Have Manatees Returned , to Endangered Status.br On November 21, environmental groups br warned that manatees are dying by the hundreds br mainly as a result of pollution-driven starvation.br The Center for Biological Diversity filed a petition with br the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeking to have br the animal once again listed as an endangered species. .br 'The Independent' reports that br according to the group, the manatee br being taken off the list in 2017 was an error. .br The Fish and Wildlife Service now has br the opportunity to correct its mistake and br protect these desperately imperiled animals, Ragan Whitlock, Attorney for the Florida-based Center for Biological Diversity, via 'The Independent'.br The petition argues that pollution from fertilizer runoff, br leaking septic tanks, wastewater discharge and br increased development has caused algae blooms. .br The petition argues that pollution from fertilizer runoff, br leaking septic tanks, wastewater discharge and br increased development has caused algae blooms. .br These algae blooms have killed a majority of br the seagrass on which manatees depend on br to survive, particularly off of Florida's east coast.br In 2021, a record 1,100 manatees died from starvation, br representing 13 of all manatees estimated br to dwell in the waters surrounding Florida.br So far in 2022, at least 736 manatee deaths br had been reported as of November 11. .br 'The Independent' reports that putting the manatee back br on the endangered list would bolster federal scrutiny, while alsobr providing more resources and expertise to help the problem. .