Manatee Appreciation Day is dedicated to raising awareness about the plight of manatees and promoting their conservation. The day is celebrated on the last Wednesday in March, with the aim of educating the public about the importance of protecting manatees—large, gentle marine mammals that are found in warm waters around the world, including Florida, the Caribbean, South America, and West Africa—and their habitats.

Manatees face several threats, including habitat loss, boat strikes, pollution, and climate change. Every year, Save the Manatee Club shares resources and activities to help everyone do their part to protect manatees.