Shared Waters

In the warm water springs of Florida, manatees are revered by locals and visitors alike. Sharing their natural habitat with jet skiers, paddle boarders and more, manatees live in close and constant proximity to people.

Shared Waters explores this complex coexistence in locations across the region. The project considers how conservation organisations help protect this vital species by tracking, monitoring, and creating safe refuges for manatees during the winter months.

Although Blue Spring State Park and Crystal River have protection zones for manatees, levels of protection and interaction vary between these first-magnitude springs. Manatees have no natural predators, yet they are classified as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

Shared Waters considers the dangers manatees face, including habitat loss, food scarcity, and boat strikes. Through these images of observed moments, this work reflects the reality of shared space, where care and disturbance exist side by side. By focusing on these interactions, the project aims to increase manatee visibility and encourage protection.

Can humans and manatees coexist?