Indian River Lagoon is dieing because of the introduction of the "West Indies Manatee" I have lived on the Lagoon all my life. What used to be teaming of life is lifeless. The segrass beds are gone in our area in Sebastian. And it's not the from any red tide or pollution! Areas I snorkeled are bare. Clams are gone. Oysters are minimal and Mullet jumping is a less of an event. I watch the Manatee devoure the grass beds then come back for more which are barren. The life i watched in the beds long ago are gone. I hear and read those that "think" they know. They didn't grow up "on the lagoon". Wanna be professionals. It's the same people that will tell you how to change a tire, but never saw it done and can't do it themselves. When Manatees jump out of the water to reach food, there is a problem If you really respect and care for the "West Indies Manatee", think about relocation Manatees need to be relocated into warm water areas such as lake Okeechobee or st johns or maybe where they originated, It's in their name. Manatees no longer have a positive effect in the lagoon. At one point in the 50's and 60's when the Hiasence were clogging the lagoon they had positive effect. That problem has long sense gone. Don't get me wrong. I do like the creatures but facts are facts. PS: Some of the video shown is NOTHING in reality today in the main body of the lagoon.
I agree that some areas in the video have died off. There's debate on how it died away, but the State is funding multiple projects to help restore the lagoon, and it's working. There's also multiple clam and oyster projects here locally to help filter the water. We plan to film some areas that have been restored, with exact locations. We should have that one ready by summer. It's going to take many years to restore it, and it might not happen in our lifetime, but it's a work in progress.
I agree with the comments below. The video,is the BIGGEST lie, there is. I am a Floridian born,and a retired Pro photographer, underwater. Showing off shore video,of stands of coral, and yellow tail. Is a HUGE lie for the lagoon. No way.also super clear water. Hell NO. I currently live in Sebastian,on the Sebastian river,for years. The is NO , huge areas of Turtle grass, like in the video. Our area has been dead for at least TEN years. Nice try liars.
