On September 23, 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a proposed rule to revise the critical habitat plan for the Florida manatee and designate critical habitat for the Antillean manatee in Puerto Rico. The proposed rule would remove 259,842 acres and add 1,198,639 acres of critical habitat for Florida manatees. As a result, if the proposed rule is adopted, the total critical habitat designation for the Florida Manatee would nearly double, increasing from approximately 965,394 acres to 1,904,191 acres. This new proposed habitat ranges from Wakulla Springs to the upper Florida Keys. This expanded designation may impact coastal property owners who were previously unaffected by the Endangered Species Act.  Click here to read more.