The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has decided not to reclassify Florida manatees as endangered, despite ongoing high mortality rates caused by starvation, boat strikes and habitat loss. Conservationists, including Ragan Whitlock, a staff attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, criticized the decision as a “several year setback,” noting that endangered status could boost funding and recovery efforts. “This is an event that has been going on for years. It had already been going on for a year when we submitted our petition,” said Whitlock. “There are now four years of mortality data. There are folks on the ground to know the lack of reproduction that's happening in this species.” MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/life/animals/activists-disappointed-florida-manatees-not-granted-endangered-status/67-494cbd1f-3b3b-4582-ac71-5964c47badf3