Case studies

Tracking Manatees in Florida

How is movement data helping Clearwater Marine Aquarium drive conservation, educate the public, and inspire citizen scientists.
Saving Manatees with Data and Maps

Saving Florida Manatees: How CMA Uses Real-Time Tracking for Conservation

Florida’s manatees are facing a serious crisis. With over 2,000 deaths in just two years due to water pollution, loss of habitat, and food scarcity, these iconic marine mammals are edging closer to endangered status. Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA), in partnership with Mapotic, is using real-time tracking and interactive data visualization to help reverse this trend — turning scientific data into action.

ABOUT THIS CLIENT

Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) is a non–profit organization based in Florida, dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine animals. With decades of experience in marine life conservation, CMA is also known for its educational programs and scientific research. Their team plays a crucial role in protecting Florida’s threatened manatee population by monitoring their health, tracking their movements, and ensuring a safe return to their natural habitats.

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CMA is one of the few U.S. centers authorized to rescue and rehab manatees - many return to the wild with GPS tags to track their journey.

Manatee rescued in Florida
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Challenge

The manatee population is under threat due to a combination of environmental degradation, loss of seagrass, fatal boat collisions, and diminishing access to warm-water habitats. Conservationists needed a way to track manatee behavior, monitor rehabilitation, and engage the public with accessible data — all while coordinating rescue efforts and habitat protection.

Solution

Mapotic partnered with CMA to visualize real-time GPS tracking data from manatees rescued and rehabilitated by CMA. By integrating telemetry systems like Argos and platforms such as Movebank, Mapotic created a public-facing Live Data Map that shows detailed information about manatee movement, behavior, and habitats. Through this manatees movement visualization, researchers can monitor the reintegration of rescued manatees into the wild and identify critical zones needing protection.

Interactive Animal Tracking Visualization Technology Features

Real-time telemetry processing and animal movements visualization on interactive maps
Easily filter tracking data by time range, individual animal, or specific behavior patterns.
Processing and unification of various geolocation data sources including environment
Enable researchers to record observations and measured values
Visualize underwater topography to better understand marine animal behavior
Connect various data sources such as Argos, Iridium, or Movebank

The Impact of Live Maps: Empowering Conservationists and Engaging the Public

Live tracking visualization is a powerful tool for conservation organizations — not only to monitor wildlife in real time, but also to communicate their mission and raise awareness. By turning complex tracking data into visual stories, they help engage the public, spark curiosity, and make scientific efforts more relatable. These interactive tools support citizen science, attract new supporters, and create a deeper connection between people and conservation goals. They’re an effective way to promote ongoing work and highlight the challenges species like manatees face today.

Why it matters

It’s not just about maps — it’s about saving lives. Real-time data helps protect habitats, engage the public, and boost support for conservation.

Future plans

Mapotic and CMA continue to expand their collaboration, aiming to include more interactive features, deeper integration with research tools, and education-focused map layers to reach new audiences — from scientists to schoolchildren.

We are also continuously improving the tracking experience. Recent updates include field notes, allowing researchers to log measurements and observations during animal checkups directly into the system. We’ve added weather map layers for better environmental context and are working on integrating additional environmental data sources to support deeper analysis and more informed conservation strategies.

Platform benefits

What choosing Mapotic brings you

Simplicity

No GIS knowledge or data expertise required to build amazing apps or create free custom maps

User engagement

Unlike existing mapping platforms, Mapotic focuses on end user target audience

Data aggregation

Merging various data sources into one attractive and easy-to-understand output

Integration

Built with integration and synchronization to existing systems and products in mind

Unique content

Mapotic can offer hundreds of thousands of location data points

Mobile apps

Besides web outputs, clients can easily build their own branded maps mobile app

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