It’s hard to overstate Dr. Buddy Powell’s impact on wild Florida. A pioneer in manatee research and conservation for over five decades, Buddy was more than just a scientist. He was a kind, brilliant leader whose depth of knowledge, generosity of spirit, and quiet determination shaped entire scientific fields.
He was a pillar of Florida’s conservation community, beginning his career in the 1970s with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and going on to lead groundbreaking marine mammal research in Florida, West Africa, Belize, and Cuba. Through his leadership roles at Sea to Shore Alliance and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, Buddy advanced protections not only for manatees, but for North Atlantic right whales and sea turtles as well. His work contributed to the creation of marine protected areas, speed regulations to prevent ship strikes, and collaborative international conservation initiatives.
Our Foundation had the privilege of working closely with Buddy, most notably through his service on our Protect Florida Springs license plate grants committee. His insight and wisdom helped steer critical funding to projects that now play a role in protecting Florida’s fragile freshwater ecosystems and the species that depend on them, including manatees. His ability to bridge research and action made him an irreplaceable voice in these decisions. We’re honored to help carry his legacy into the future.
Buddy was also a hometown hero. A native of Crystal River, he dreamed of a safe haven for injured and orphaned manatees, a vision that came true in 2024 with the opening of Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s Manatee Rehabilitation Center. Our Foundation was proud to help fund this facility, and we’ll always think of it as part of his lasting legacy.
We are deeply saddened by his passing, but his legacy lives on in every manatee gliding through a protected spring, every student inspired by his work, and every conservationist carrying his vision forward. Florida is better because of Buddy Powell.
