Ocean Sentry
The 31 manatees found dead in the state of Tabasco, in southeastern Mexico, since May 18 has led to an investigation into the case, the Mexican environmental authority reported.
The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) highlighted the participation of federal, local authorities, educational institutions and social organizations in the groups that investigate these deaths.
Local fishermen report deaths of fish in the river and blame polluted water in an area that is near onshore and offshore drilling projects operated by national oil company Pemex, a giant oil company in Mexico. But several studies have failed to find evidence of contamination. CONAGUA recently conducted water tests on this river, but no spills or traces of oil were found in the water or pesticides that could have poisoned the marine mammals.
Scientists wonder if the deaths of the marine mammal are related to wider changes in the climate and rising sea levels.
The agency said it has reports of massive killings of sirenians in different parts of the world in the last 10 years due to the harmful algal blooms, or HABs.
According to a study led by the Technological Institute of Boca del Río, in the Mexican state of Veracruz, it has been detected the presence of heavy metals, one of the possible causes of death to consider.
Manatees (Trichechus manatus), similar to the seal but larger, is a species listed as in danger of extinction because its distribution area.
The population size in the Mexican territory have drastically decreased, putting its viability at biological risk in all its natural habitat.
