There has been much confusion about the status of the manatee population. Is it declining? Is it increasing? Is it remaining stable? Since the answer to this question plays an important role in helping to determine if the manatee should be reclassified (downlisted or delisted), it is important that the scientific facts be presented by qualified experts. The following are statements put together by the Manatee Technical Advisory Council (MTAC), whose members are appointed by the Governor of Florida to provide recommendations on manatee-related issues, and the Manatee Population Status Working Group, established under the purview of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Manatee Recovery Plan.
