Save the Manatee® Club The Voice for Manatees Since 1981 Save the Manatee® Club (SMC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization, established in 1981 by singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett and former Florida Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham. SMC’s mission is to protect imperiled manatees and their aquatic habitat for future generations. To accomplish its mission, SMC works closely with federal, state, and local governments, as well as with the public at the grass roots level, and supports policies that are based on the best scientific data available. SMC raises public awareness; educates; conducts research; sponsors rescue, rehabilitation, and release efforts; supports land acquisition; promotes aquatic habitat protection; advocates for improved protection measures; and assists education and conservation efforts in other countries. 2017 Highlights of Activities and Accomplishments Conservation and Advocacy • Worked with partner organizations on the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership website and the online petition With the help of our supporters and diverse and website for the Floridians’ Clean Water Declaration. grassroots network, we work in virtually every area of manatee conservation. In 2017, SMC: • Successfully advocated for the development of a Collier County speed zone review, which will help reduce manatee • Objected to the unwarranted removal of crucial manatee injuries and fatalities in these busy protections afforded by the Endangered Species Act (ESA). waterways. SMC provided comprehensive science-based advocacy efforts • Presented as invited speakers at and legal analysis of numerous federal laws, rules, and statutes. several conferences, symposiums, • Advised supporters on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's and educational meetings. action to downlist manatees. We expressed our opposition • Initiated the Rose Bay Living through press releases, and interviews. We also produced a Shoreline Project in east Volusia Volunteers help plant video explaining why the downlisting was premature and mangrove seeds as County. The project endeavors to part of the living outlined actions citizens could take. create the first community-wide shorelines project • Continued to advocate for stronger manatee protections in living shoreline and create a model Kings Bay/Crystal River via enhancement and expansion of for community-driven habitat management. sanctuary protections, a strict "hands-off" International and Interstate Conservation policy, comprehensive We have helped to conserve manatee populations bay-wide management around the globe by supporting local education improvements, and conservation efforts to improve the lives of and water supply manatees and local residents. In 2017, SMC: and water quality improvements. • Continued collaboration with Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s Dr. Katie Tripp, speaking with a journalist Manatee Sighting Network in Alabama and produced a short concerning the recent harmful algae blooms in Florida video about manatees in Alabama. • Collaborated with the Manatee Eco Tourism Association of Citrus County to launch the pilot program, Guardian Guides, • Continued collaboration and funding throughout the West a set of guidelines developed to protect manatees from human African manatee’s habitat in Nigeria, including the growth harassment during tourism activities. of an alternative livelihoods • Rallied national, state, and local supporters to act on numerous program, providing issues supporting the ESA and opposing cuts in funding for manatee poachers imperiled species. with a sustainable • Submitted science-based comments regarding water quality and legal alternative and water supply that could affect manatee habitat, including to taking manatees. extensive involvement with the creation of a Reasonable • Continued Assurance Plan for the Mosquito Lagoon and development of collaborative efforts Villagers in Nigeria proudly participating in the alternative livelihoods program the Volusia Blue Spring Basin Management Action Plan. with Wildtracks, • Provided comments on the Ichetucknee State Park Unit Belize’s only manatee rehabilitation facility. Sent funds, Management Plan, Three Sisters Upland Environmental supplies, and essential equipment to assist their rescue and Assessment, and Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge rehabilitation needs. Comprehensive Conservation Plan. • Assisted the Puerto Rico Manatee Conservation Center in • Authored bi-monthly articles for the Chiefland Citizen on raising critical funds needed to repair damage sustained by topical conservation issues. Hurricane Maria. • Served as a representative of the Springs Education Committee • Continued work in Brazil, Cameroon, Cuba, and other areas on the Florida Springs Council. where manatees reside. Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Release • Provided feedback to authors of manatee publications. SMC appreciates all its partners’ efforts on the • Created and distributed public service announcements (PSAs) manatees’ behalf. Our goal is to ensure that each for the national print media, magazines, newspapers, blogs, manatee has the best chance of surviving an injury websites, and radio and TV stations. or illness, and returning to the wild. In 2017, SMC: • Coordinated multiple events • Continued efforts to protect the funding for Florida’s Critical and educational presentations Care Program so that sick, injured, and orphaned manatees with dedicated SMC could be rescued, rehabilitated, and returned to the wild. volunteers. • Assisted with, and documented, several manatee rescues and • Published and distributed a releases and participated in post-release monitoring. wide variety of free educational materials to teachers, students, • Continued to parks, environmental groups, actively support libraries, government agencies, SMC volunteer, Trinket Mason, the work of the interacts with the public at and others. one of many outreach events Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation • Continued our distribution of free public awareness materials Partnership, such as signs for shoreline property owners, and banners, tips whose goal is to cards, and decals for boaters, featuring a number to report sick rescue and treat or injured manatees. sick or injured manatees and Research SMC, along with other agencies, participates in release them back manatee health assessments at Crystal River Over the years, SMC has supported numerous into the wild. cooperative research projects. Accurate and current data are essential tools that help when • Continued growing the Blue Spring Manatee Observer advocating for new or continued protections for Volunteer Group to prevent manatee harassment. manatees and their aquatic habitat. In 2017, SMC: Education and Public Awareness • Continued decades-long observations on the Blue Spring Our extensive education and outreach efforts have manatees, and shared data such as scar sheets and genealogies grown impressively over the years with help from with manatee researchers and scientists. our supporters and volunteers. In 2017, SMC: • Received WKMG's “Getting Results Award.” The television • Launched our newly-designed website. The new site is secure, station created a video on SMC's Wayne Hartley that was mobile friendly, and easier to navigate, which will help to aired in the Central Florida educate more people about manatees. area and featured on their website. • Increased public awareness about manatees through our Blue Spring State Park Manatee Webcams, along with reports by • Participated in the statewide Manatee Specialist Wayne synoptic and abundance Hartley. survey, held annually to obtain a minimum count of • Produced over 40 educational manatees in Florida. videos that can be viewed on • Utilized webcams and on- SMC Manatee Specialist Wayne our growing YouTube channel. Hartley and Manatee Reseach site observations for manatee Specialist Cora Berchem during a • Hosted several online manatee research and health checks morning roll call at Blue Spring educational programs for in Blue Spring State Park. school classrooms through Students enjoy one of SMC's many Skype. Skype in the Classroom sessions Membership and Development • Educated the public through the Paddle Tales eNewsletter, As we continue to grow as an organization, we work which features current manatee news, educational features, diligently to ensure operations run as efficiently photos, video, activities, and manatee Q & A. and cost effectively as possible. In 2017, SMC: • Made possible by caring legacy benefactors, continued the • Answered questions from students and educators, including integration of our membership and accounting programs and robotics groups participating in the FIRST LEGO League's advancements in our online technologies. STEM competition to design manatee protection devices. • Added thousands of new donors, manatee adopters, • Responded to numerous footage and interview requests from volunteers, and online supporters and advocates to our the media. growing manatee community.

Save the Manatee® Club 500 N. Maitland Ave. Suite 210 � Maitland, FL 32751 savethemanatee.org � 1-800-432-JOIN (5646)