In 1986, an unknown marine biologist and self-taught artist from Jamaica arrived on the Fort Lauderdale Worldwide Boat Present with a folding desk, a stack of T-shirts, and vibrant work of the ocean’s most charming creatures. The artwork turned heads, the shirts bought out, and one thing far greater than a weekend hustle was set in movement.
The person behind the desk was Man Harvey—destined to change into one of many world’s most acknowledged marine wildlife artists and a number one voice for ocean conservation. What started as a humble sales space at a ship present grew right into a profession that seamlessly merged artwork, science, and training. In 2008, Harvey took his mission to the subsequent degree, founding the Man Harvey Basis (previously the Man Harvey Ocean Basis) in Fort Lauderdale and channeling his ardour into a world power for analysis, training, and preservation of the seas.
From shark-tagging expeditions on the Man Harvey Analysis Institute—based mostly at Nova Southeastern College’s Halmos School of Arts & Sciences—to coral restoration tasks within the Florida Keys, the Basis’s work is deeply rooted in South Florida. The waters listed here are greater than a backdrop; they’re residing lecture rooms, laboratories, and reminders of what’s at stake if we fail to guard the marine setting.
Now main the Basis as CEO is Harvey’s daughter, Jessica. Raised on boats and analysis journeys, she grew up immersed in marine science and conservation. Her love of wildlife and the outside—instilled by her dad and mom—led her right into a profession as an environmental conservationist earlier than taking the helm of the household’s nonprofit.
Jessica’s newest initiative, the Man Harvey Conservation Schooling Program, offers educators—and, by extension, faculties and districts—entry to regional skilled improvement in environmental Science, Expertise, Engineering, Arts, and Arithmetic (STEAM) training. After finishing the coaching, contributors change into Man Harvey Conservation (GHC) Educators, outfitted with recognition, assets, and grants to boost their lecture rooms and encourage the subsequent era of ocean stewards. “That is open to all elementary, center, and highschool educators,” Jessica says. “It consists of all of the supplies, provides, and academic content material they should encourage and excite the subsequent era of stewards of ocean conservation.”
This system builds on earlier academic initiatives, together with Ok–12 marine science curriculum improvement, STEAM-based lesson plans, and hands-on experiences that join college students on to the ocean’s wonders and challenges. Strategic partnerships with Brightmark, SeaWorld, the Florida Lottery, and Norwegian Cruise Line have exponentially expanded the curriculum’s attain, with an estimated potential affect of fifty million college students and 5 million academics worldwide.
For native college students in Broward, Palm Seashore, and Miami-Dade counties, the affect is rapid and tangible. A seashore cleanup centered on plastic waste, learning coral well being, or monitoring a satellite-tagged shark from a classroom laptop can ignite a lifelong ardour for conservation.
Fueling this training is the cutting-edge science produced by the Man Harvey Analysis Institute, established in 1999 by means of a collaboration between Harvey and NSU. One in every of solely a handful of personal organizations devoted completely to conserving fish populations and biodiversity, the Institute brings collectively scientists, college students, and volunteers to tag sharks, monitor reef well being, and generate knowledge that shapes conservation coverage.
The Institute’s shark-tracking program—open to sponsorship by faculties, companies, and people—lets the general public observe tagged sharks on-line in near-real time. “That is science that captures the creativeness whereas additionally producing beneficial migration knowledge that helps shield these important apex predators,” Jessica says.
Whereas the Basis’s attain extends throughout the globe, its heartbeat is right here in South Florida, the place eco-tourism, fishing, and recreation rely upon wholesome oceans. Locals can assist its mission by volunteering, buying Man Harvey merchandise (a portion of proceeds goes to conservation and training), or attending the annual fundraising gala.
Each October, the Basis hosts this signature occasion in Fort Lauderdale, with proceeds benefiting ocean analysis and training. This yr’s seventeenth anniversary celebration will happen October 29 on the Lauderdale Yacht Membership and can honor two people for his or her vital contributions to marine conservation and training.
Dr. Harvey’s story is a testomony to how one particular person’s ardour can spark a motion—however as he typically says, “It takes money to care.” Simply as his profession started with a desk on the Fort Lauderdale Boat Present, the way forward for ocean conservation rests with college students, academics, and ocean lovers working collectively to guard our seas.
Go to guyharveyfoundation.org to become involved.
