Manatee Protection Act of 2023

The Manatee Protection Act of 2023 (H.R. 131) would require the Department of the Interior to reclassify the West Indian manatee as an "endangered" species rather than its current "threatened" status. This change would grant the manatee the highest level of federal protection under the Endangered Species Act, potentially leading to increased funding for habitat restoration and stricter enforcement of boating and water-use regulations. For citizens, this could result in new federal resources to address manatee mortality rates and more rigorous oversight of activities in Florida’s waterways to ensure the long-term survival of the species.