News

By Stephanie Cohen, Public Relations Specialist

In 1979, the late former Florida Governor and co-founder of Save the Manatee Club, Bob Graham, first declared November as Manatee Awareness Month, at a time when the state first began establishing manatee protection zones. Although this designation wasn’t officially recognized by the state of Florida until 2005, this year marks 45 years of celebrating Manatee Awareness Month, underscoring the importance of protecting manatees and their habitat. “Why November?” you ask. It is a particularly significant month for Florida manatees, as it’s when they begin seeking warmer waters, and the goal of this observance is to unite everyone in raising awareness about the threats manatees face and the actions needed to ensure their survival.

Manatee Awareness Month is not only a time to reflect on the current status of manatee populations, but also to honor the history of manatee conservation and those who have championed this cause over the years, most notably Bob Graham. At the time of his declaration, only 800 to 1,000 Florida manatees were thought to remain. As governor, Graham played a pivotal role in launching the state’s manatee protection movement through legislation addressing growing threats such as habitat loss, watercraft collisions, and pollution. A dedicated nature lover and wildlife advocate, Graham recognized the urgency of protecting this imperiled species that would become Florida’s state marine mammal in 1975. Then, in 1981, he partnered with the late musician Jimmy Buffett, a fellow manatee advocate, to co-found our organization, Save the Manatee Club.

Since Bob Graham’s proposal for Manatee Awareness Month 45 years ago, it has become a vital platform for driving legislative change, promoting public education, and advancing research efforts to conserve the species. Graham’s commitment to manatee protection went beyond symbolism. Under his leadership, critical protections were enacted, including the establishment of manatee protection zones and speed regulations for boaters in manatee habitats. These early efforts laid the groundwork for future policies that continue to protect manatees today.

Manatee Awareness Month has grown significantly since 1979, evolving into a national and even global effort to highlight the importance of protecting this imperiled species. This November we encourage you to reflect with us on the progress made since the early 1980s and to recognize the ongoing challenges manatees still face. Bob Graham’s legacy lives on through our continued work at Save the Manatee Club and the broader conservation community. Through events, educational campaigns, and community engagement, Manatee Awareness Month continues to fulfill Bob Graham’s vision of inspiring people to protect manatees.

We hope you are inspired to join us this November to celebrate Manatee Awareness Month by taking action to protect these gentle giants and their habitat. There are many ways to get involved, whether it’s volunteering your time, supporting our work financially, or writing to government officials to advocate for stronger protections for manatees. Learn more about what actions you can take this Manatee Awareness Month to help manatees at savethemanatee.org/MAM. Your participation helps raise awareness and ensures that manatees continue to receive the care and conservation efforts they need. Together, we continue to make a difference and a lasting impact by continuing the legacy of protecting manatees for future generations.