$3.5M In State Funds To Go To Building Manatee Rehabilitation Pools

CLEARWATER, FL — The Clearwater Marine Aquarium announced Thursday that Florida Gov. Ron Desantis is directing $3.5 million to the aquarium for manatee rehabilitation pools from the state's newly approved $109.9 billion "Freedom First" budget.

The funds are part of a record $20 million set to enhance and expand the state’s manatee acute care facilities and to restore spring access and habitat restoration in manatee concentrated areas.

The nonprofit Clearwater Marine Aquarium plans to break ground by the end of this summer on a 20- by 30-foot rehabilitation pool at its Island Estates location in Clearwater. When completed, the pool will be able to hold two manatee patients in need of care.

“For over a decade, Clearwater Marine Aquarium has assisted in rescuing, transporting, releasing and tracking wild manatees with our colleagues in the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership and throughout the Caribbean,” said President and Executive Director Dr. James “Buddy” Powell. “We are absolutely thrilled that we are now able to establish a new manatee research and rehabilitation facility here in Pinellas County.”

“The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is a Florida treasure, saving our precious marine life and giving the world stories of inspiration like Winter the Dolphin,” said Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor. “Amid a growing manatee crisis in Florida, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium is now on the front lines of the fight to rescue, rehabilitate, release and track these iconic Florida marine mammals and restore their habitats.”

See related stories:

• Aquarium To Turn Winter's Old Home Into Manatee Rescue Center
• Record Deaths Of Manatees Prompt Urgent Need For New Rehab Center
• Aquarium To Turn Winter's Old Home Into Manatee Rescue Center

The West Indian manatees in Florida are currently dying at a record rate, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

From Jan. 1 to June 10, 588 manatees died in Florida waters. That puts the manatee mortality rate on track in 2022 to surpass last year's record number of 1,101 deaths.

Deaths have been reported this year in nearly all coastal counties due to boat strikes (34 so far this year), cold stress, getting trapped in flood gates, natural causes and giving birth (30 so far this year).

The manatee has also fallen victim to a host of undetermined causes including toxic exposure to red tide and starvation due to Florida's dwindling seagrass beds, the manatee's main source of food.

“Clearwater Marine Aquarium is exceptionally positioned to establish manatee rehabilitation facilities in Pinellas County," said Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard. "We have all seen the devastating news about record manatee deaths. Reversing this will take immense coordination, resources and partnerships. As a leader in the marine biology field, they (CMA) are the forefront experts in manatee conservation and protection along with marine life rescue, rehabilitation and release.”

“Saving Florida’s manatees takes immense coordination, resources, and partnerships,” said Powell, who has been researching and rescuing manatees for more than 40 years. “Clearwater Marine Aquarium is committed to this mission and our team of researchers, biologists and veterinarians are ready to assist with the continued influx of manatees affected by habitat loss, red tide, boat injuries, and cold stress syndrome.”

The acute care facility at CMA is part of a three-phase manatee survival plan unveiled earlier this year.

The second phase includes the construction of three manatee rehabilitation pools at CMA’s Fred Howard Park location in Tarpon Springs and the final phase involves a $10 million state-of-the-art facility at CMA’s Island Estates location in Clearwater.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium previously received $95,000 in federal funding to assist in the construction of the new manatee rehabilitation center, but the aquarium is continuing to seek grants. In addition, the aquarium has launched a fundraising campaign for the remaining funds.

Anyone wishing to donate can visit the campaign's website.