Your Signature Is Needed: Your action today could help save vulnerable manatees from extinction

Last year was another difficult year for manatees, Friend. Last year was another difficult year for manatees, Friend. More than 500 of these iconic marine mammals died across Florida, following the alarming trend we saw in 2021 and 2022 — the worst and second worst years for number of recorded manatee deaths ever in history! We must act now to save these treasured sea mammals. Scientists have determined that most of these deaths were caused by STARVATION due to the loss of seagrass beds, which these gentle giants need to survive. Seagrass also plays a crucial role in protecting our planet and oceanic ecosystems by storing ⅕ of the entire Earth’s carbon. So what contributes to the destruction of this critical environmental habitat and vital food source of manatees? Cruise ships. Friend, the last of our precious manatees are heading towards EXTINCTION, and the greedy cruise industry is pushing them even closer to the brink. Toxic cruise pollution is threatening critical biodiversity and destroying our precious oceans. [TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION: Add your name now to STOP Big Cruise’s corporate greed and toxic environmental pollution >>]( [SIGN THE PETITION]( Without seagrass, manatees cannot survive. It is their #1 source of nutrition, and it generates a significant amount of oxygen which we all depend on. But massive cruise ships dump toxic wastewater and churn up sand and contaminants that compromise water quality and contribute to the destruction of seagrass. Manatees are one of the most beloved and gentle marine animals, and losing this iconic species would be devastating to our ocean ecosystems. The greedy billion-dollar cruise industry isn’t just threatening the very survival of vulnerable manatees and causing irreparable damage to our planet, but its pollution even has a detrimental impact on humans. The poor air quality caused by cruise ship emissions puts crew and passengers at risk of respiratory issues and other health concerns, as well as nearby coastal communities who are forced to breathe in these harmful pollutants. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a responsibility to protect the planet and its living beings from corporate greed and Big Polluters. And the cruise industry is one of the top offenders. That’s why we need 2,714 more activist names on our petition by MIDNIGHT to show the EPA we have strong public support for enhanced regulations of cruise pollution. It’s time to hold Big Cruise accountable for its environmental destruction, Friend. [Defend our oceans and planet from toxic cruise pollution by adding your name to our petition now! >>]( [SIGN THE PETITION]( Thanks for giving defenseless manatees a voice, Friends of the Earth Contact Us: Friends of the Earth U.S. Washington, D.C. | Berkeley, CA PO Box 7010 Merrifield, VA 22116-7010 1-877-843-8687 [Contact us](foe.org/about-us/contact/) Email Preferences: [Click here to unsubscribe]( Learn more: www.foe.org/news www.foe.org/about-us www.foeaction.org Connect: [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Flickr]( © 2017, Friends of the Earth. All Rights Reserved. [supporter]