Species Protection

Protecting vulnerable and endangered species that rely on healthy waterways and resilient ecosystems.

Species Protection

From coral reefs to manatees, protecting wildlife means protecting clean water, healthy ecosystems, and our future.

Why Species Protection Matters

Healthy ecosystems depend on healthy species.

From filtering water to supporting fisheries, wildlife like corals, manatees, and fish play essential roles in keeping Biscayne Bay and South Florida’s waters thriving.

When species decline, the systems we rely on begin to fail.

What’s Threatening South Florida Species

Wildlife across South Florida faces growing pressure from:

  • Habitat destruction from dredging and development
  • Water pollution that fuels algae blooms and kills seagrass
  • Climate change causing sea level rise and saltwater intrusion

These threats are interconnected—and they’re accelerating.

Holding Polluters Accountable

Our legal advocacy has led to real protections for South Florida species:

  • Coral reefs: Challenging dredging projects that buried hundreds of acres of reef habitat
  • Manatees: Advocating for stronger protections as habitat loss leads to mass starvation
  • Miami cave crayfish: Pushing for federal protections as sea level rise threatens its freshwater habitat

These efforts protect not just wildlife—but the ecosystems and communities that depend on them.

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PUBLISHED WORK

Media Coverage

Stories of Accountability & Recovery

Miami Waterkeeper has been cited by local and national outlets as a trusted source on South Florida water quality, policy, and environmental justice.

Press Release

NEWS: Corps Temporarily Halts Fort Lauderdale Dredging Project After Conservationists’ Lawsuit

August 13, 2026

For Immediate Release, August 13, 2026 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has agreed to halt authorization of all dredging activity for Broward County’s…

Press Release

Conservationists Challenge Dredging Project Near Port Everglades Over Endangered Species Act Violations

August 6, 2026

Miami Waterkeeper, the Center for Biological Diversity,  Florida Wildlife Federation and the Diving Equipment & Marketing Association sued the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Marine Fisheries Service on Tuesday for violating the Endangered Species Act when permitting a sand dredging project near Port Everglades….

Press Release

Miami-Dade Cities Overall Improve Stormwater Compliance, but Biscayne Bay is still at Risk

June 3, 2026

A coalition of environmental organizations released the Stormwater Report Card for Miami-Dade County, a comprehensive, independent assessment of how the county and its 34 municipal permittees manage polluted stormwater…

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Florida Solicitation of Contributions Registration #CH46021 A copy of the official registration and financial information for Biscayne Bay Waterkeeper (aka Miami Waterkeeper), a Florida-based nonprofit organization, may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) within the state or visiting www.800HELPFLA.com. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state.

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