Boat-caused mortality continues at stable percentage of total.

Manatee deaths dropped last year by more than a fourth from 2003, according to figures released by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI).

The 2004 reported total of 276 deaths is considerably lower than the 370 recorded the previous year when red tide events caused a large number of fatalities. The warm-water mammals, particularly juveniles, become vulnerable when water temperatures fall below 68 degrees.

Watercraft-related deaths accounted for 69 deaths last year, compared to 73 in 2003 and 95 in 2002.

State researchers made no mention of the fact that last year’s boat-associated deaths were a 27 percent decrease from the 2002 number that was run up media flagpoles all through the state.