Manatees are found in more than 20 different countries across the Caribbean Sea, from Panama to Trinidad, Jamaica to the Dominican Republic. 

But the sea creatures face a number of threats, from continued habitat loss to other human activities. 

It will take a united effort to help conserve them — and that’s the thinking behind the creation of the new Wider Caribbean Manatee Alliance. 

The regional initiative, which was set up last year, was the brainchild of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, and it’s now harmonizing experts and conservation stakeholders from around the Caribbean Basin to help advance manatee conservation. 

“The Caribbean region provides essential habitats for manatees, including shallow coastal waters, rivers, freshwater springs, estuaries, and seagrass beds, which are vital for their survival and reproduction,” said Dr. Anmari Alvarez-Aleman, Caribbean Research Director at CMARI and Coordinator at the new alliance. 

A recent workshop yielded several areas of priority, from reducing manatee mortality from hunting to lowering the gaps of scientific information about manatees in the region to improving conservation efforts in countries like Venezuela and Nicaragua. 

The hope is that the new initiative can help build a stronger foundation for manatee conservation — and the ecosystems they depend on.

“By engaging regional leaders—especially those in coastal communities and government agencies—we can turn conservation plans into actionable solutions with measurable results,” Alvarez-Aleman said.