A federal judge has denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit accusing Florida of violating the Endangered Species Act due to sewage discharges into the Indian River Lagoon, which have contributed to manatee deaths.

TALLAHASSEE - A federal judge this week refused to dismiss a lawsuit alleging that Florida has violated the Endangered Species Act because of sewage discharges into the Indian River Lagoon that have helped lead to manatee deaths.

Florida had a record 1,100 manatee deaths in 2021, with the largest number, 358, in Brevard County, the focus of the lawsuit

A lawsuit alleging state officials violated the Endangered Species Act, contributing to the deaths of manatees, will move forward.

A federal judge rejected Florida’s motion to dismiss a case that links sewage pollution to the starvation deaths of manatees in recent years.