At a Glance

Watercraft are blamed for killing 121 manatees in Florida waters last year. The state counted 823 total manatee deaths, 285 more than in 2017.Red tide killed or is suspected of killing 211 manatees.

A record 121 manatees were killed in Florida waters by boaters last year, and the overall number of manatee deaths came close to the record, according to state figures.

About 15 percent of manatee deaths in 2018 were caused by watercraft, from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission show. In 2017, the number was 111, and in 2016, it was 106.

In 2018, 823 manatee deaths were recorded. That's just seven shy of the record 830 counted in 2013. It's also a big jump from 2017, which saw 538 deaths.

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Toxic for months is blamed for . Red tide, which is a naturally occurring algae bloom, is suspected in another 79 deaths.

The fish and wildlife commission says in state waters.

The Florida manatee is a subspecies of the West Indian manatee. In March 2017, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that the West Indian Manatee and instead would be designated as "threatened."