Conservative group sues to strip manatee of "endangered" status - Sun Sentinel

Downgrading the species from "endangered" to "threatened" is largely symbolic, as the same protections would remain. Many do not want to see the change as it signals a longer term change of policy.  Manatee deaths were up last year from a number of causes, both natural and man made. Click title for link. From the article:

The California-based foundation said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's own study recommended the change in 2007 because of the manatee's improving prospects. This year, a single-day count found 4,834 manatees in Florida, well above the minimum stated by the federal government, the foundation said.
"It has been seven years since the federal government's own scientific review signaled that the manatee should be removed from 'endangered' status," said Christina M. Martin, an attorney in the foundation's Palm Beach Gardens office. "But no action has been taken. Everyone who values responsible environmental management should be concerned by this foot-dragging and failure to follow scientific findings."