Scientists say many have died of starvation

as their main food staple - sea grass - disappears in the state's Panhandle region.

"We knew when we first began studying manatees that they had serious threats."

Biologist James "Buddy" Powell says out of an estimated population of 6,000 to 7,000 manatees in Florida,

up to 1,000 died in 2022 alone.

"So you'll have thousands of manatees in this area, which they come sort of expecting, you know, 'where's the buffet?' and they arrive and it's not there. So, they have been starving and dying as a consequence to that starvation but also other health concerns associated with malnutrition."

While the gentle sea mammals are a protected species in Florida, their environment is not.

Their staple sea grass is being killed off primarily by water pollution.

Some get injured by boats.

And toxic algal bloom has been growing in their habitats.

"Once you go further south on the West Coast, we have these red tide events that occur periodically, and it's a toxic algae and manatees can actually succumb to this toxin by either breathing it in right at the air water interface or actually if the algae dies and sinks to the bottom on the seagrass that they're feeding it, they're ingesting it indirectly."

But it's not all bad news.

Nonprofit organization Sea and Shoreline has been growing sea grass in the manatee sanctuary of Crystal River.

Sea grass biologist Jessica Mailliez explains.

"We have fully completed about 80 acres thus far and it's been so successful that the 80 acres of grass that we've planted has actually expanded to over 250 acres."

In May 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis earmarked more than $30 million to expand and enhance manatee rescue.

"So the recent executive order by Governor DeSantis is monumental. I think it's going to make a big difference in terms of trying to restore our coastal ecosystems. // But it's, unfortunately, it's reactive. // We can't take our foot off the gas. We're going to have to remain diligent to make sure that we're putting in protections, we're creating wild space for them, and also trying to make sure that, you know, we can live with them and they can live with us."