The Manatee Observation and Education Center
OUR MISSION is to promote understanding and responsible actions for the protection of the Treasure Coast's fragile ecosystems and their inhabitants.
OUR HISTORY: TWENTY-SIX YEARS AND COUNTING
The Manatee Observation and Education Center opened its doors on November 1, 1996, just in time for Manatee Awareness month. Since its opening, over one million visitors have enjoyed all that MOEC has to offer for children and families, with accessible opportunities to learn how life on land connects to the water.
Funding for the construction was secured through a collaborative public-private partnership with a grant from Florida Inland Navigational District and additional support from the City of Fort Pierce, Fort Pierce Utilities Authority (FPUA) and local businesses and community leaders who provided exhibits and aquaria for all to enjoy.
Once completed, administrative oversight of MOEC was transferred to publicly-owned Fort Pierce Utilities Authority who continues to shepherd the Center today. This vital support allows MOEC to focus on what's important - delivering exceptional experiences for children and families of the importance of our natural environment and how we can work together to sustain our fragile habitats today and for the future.
We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.
-Native American Proverb