If by “pollution” they mean ag fertilizer run off, they may be right. Maybe.
What’s the latest ? Last I heard ag runoff was being blamed for red tide algae blooms. DeSantis had commissioned studies.
Red tide depletes oxygen which kills fish. Sea weed, too ?...and on the east coast ? I was unaware of a manatee population outside of the gulf side of Florida
Facts needed, I suspect.
I would assume there are plenty on the Atlantic side. I once saw a manatee in the waters near Charleston, so they range at least that far north.
There are manatees in the St John’s River outside of Jacksonville.