Moving the Mission Forward
PROGRESS CONTINUES FOR FLORIDA'S WATERS AND AMERICA'S EVERGLADES
Thanks to your support, our clean-water movement reached more people, activated more advocates, and continued pushing forward the policies and projects that protect Florida’s waters and America’s Everglades.
Awareness is rising, momentum is building, and the tide is turning for clean water.
Every day, we’re challenging the status quo, engaging new supporters, and making sure policymakers know that water quality isn’t optional—it’s essential to our economy, health, and way of life.
Here’s how our core programs fueled meaningful progress in 2025.
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Major Impact Moments
Raising Awareness & Taking Action Against Big Sugar’s Rock Mine
In 2024, we exposed Big Sugar’s attempt to build a 40-year industrial rock mine in the Everglades Agricultural Area, threatening the nearby $4 billion EAA Reservoir we’ve fought hard to protect. After being temporarily stalled, the rock mine project picked back up in early 2025.
Captains did what we do best and leveraged the power of social media to effectively raise awareness about this important issue and call people to take a stand against it.
On Social:
- 5 Million+ people reached across Facebook & Instagram
- 11.1 Million views on YouTube
- 48,000+ follower/subscriber growth
Beyond Social:
- Featured in the Tampa Bay Times
- Featured on the MeatEater podcast
- Featured on Field & Stream
Advocacy & Action:
- 8,000 people took action through the Captains’ website
Defending the Everglades: A Legal Win for Clean Water
In 2025, we celebrated a major victory for the Everglades. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled unanimously against Big Sugar’s lawsuit challenging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ plans for the EAA Reservoir—a critical project designed to store, treat, and send clean water south.
When Big Sugar tried to stall progress, 16,000 supporters took action through the Captains’ platform, making their voices heard and helping ensure restoration stayed on track. This decision protects one of the most important Everglades restoration projects to date and sets a critical legal precedent for future restoration efforts.
Advocacy Campaign
- 16,000+ people took action through the Captains’ website
- Legal victory protects the $4 billion EAA Reservoir project
- Court reaffirmed restoration’s priority over special interests
Launching the Captains For Clean Water Podcast
This year, we launched the Captains For Clean Water Podcast: a new way to dive deeper into the issues, amplify local voices, and turn awareness into action. Each episode brings real conversations with fishing guides, business owners, scientists and policymakers, breaking down complex water issues and empowering listeners to become stronger advocates for clean water.
Impact
- Over 80,000 listens and downloads across platforms
- Featured voices from across Florida’s coasts and conservation community
- Helping supporters understand the system and how to be part of the solution
Educating & Empowering Business Leaders Through Preserving Paradise
In 2025, we facilitated the second Preserving Paradise Program, along with our partners at SCCF, The Everglades Foundation, & the Sanibel Captiva Chamber of Commerce. Preserving Paradise is an 8-week program for business and community leaders that combines classroom learning with hands-on experience, diving deep into the topics of water quality and Everglades restoration. These key leaders are then empowered to educate others and find innovative ways to advocate for our waters through their connections, resources, and influence.
Impact
- 23 Preserving Paradise Graduates
- 23 Local Businesses, Nonprofits, and/or Municipalities represented
The Captains Visit Capitol Hill
We carried the conversation about clean water to our nation’s capital during the America’s Everglades Summit in Washington, D.C. Fishing guides, business owners, and community leaders from across the country met face-to-face with federal lawmakers and agencies to make one message clear: Florida’s water crisis is a national issue, and restoring the Everglades benefits everyone.
The summit strengthened relationships with decision-makers, elevated coastal voices in federal conversations, and built momentum for continued support of Everglades restoration and water quality funding.
Impact
- Ambassadors from across Florida met with members of Congress and key federal agencies
- Shared firsthand stories from coastal communities directly affected by poor water management
- Helped keep Everglades restoration and clean-water funding front and center in D.C.
OUR PROGRAMS MAKING PROGRESS
ADVOCACY IN ACTION
Influencing water policy is at the heart of our mission. We show up wherever decisions are made—Tallahassee, Washington, D.C., and beyond—to push for science-based solutions, safeguard restoration projects, and ensure elected officials understand that clean water is a voter priority. Our advocacy work keeps restoration moving and holds powerful interests accountable.
- Won a major legal victory as the U.S. Court of Appeals unanimously upheld a district court’s ruling to deny Big Sugar’s lawsuit against the EAA Reservoir, safeguarding the restoration project.
- Activated 8,000 people to oppose the proposed Big Sugar rock mine in the EAA.
- Strengthened federal support during the America’s Everglades Summit in Washington, D.C., where national ambassadors met with members of Congress.
- Continued annual trips to Tallahassee and D.C. to secure Everglades restoration funding advocate for stronger clean-water policy.
ADVOCACY IN ACTION
Influencing water policy is at the heart of our mission. We show up wherever decisions are made—Tallahassee, Washington, D.C., and beyond—to push for science-based solutions, safeguard restoration projects, and ensure elected officials understand that clean water is a voter priority. Our advocacy work keeps restoration moving and holds powerful interests accountable.
- Won a major legal victory as the U.S. Court of Appeals unanimously upheld a district court’s ruling to deny Big Sugar’s lawsuit against the EAA Reservoir, safeguarding the restoration project.
- Activated 8,000 people to oppose the proposed Big Sugar rock mine in the EAA.
- Strengthened federal support during the America’s Everglades Summit in Washington, D.C., where national ambassadors met with members of Congress.
- Continued annual trips to Tallahassee and D.C. to secure Everglades restoration funding advocate for stronger clean-water policy.
DIGITAL EDUCATION & AWARENESS
Education drives political will. By expanding our digital reach, we’re bringing water-quality issues to millions of people who may not otherwise know what’s at stake. Our digital channels help people understand the challenges, the solutions, and how they can be part of the movement—transforming awareness into action at scale.
- Generated 68.1 million social and digital views across platforms.
- Grew our online community by 70,500 new supporters.
- Reached 246,000 website visitors with educational content, calls to action, and updates.
- Continued delivering highly engaged weekly email newsletters that equip supporters with information and next steps.
OUTREACH & ENGAGEMENT
Face-to-face engagement keeps our movement grounded in community. It’s the heart and soul of this effort. Through events, conversations, and on-the-water interactions, we bring clean-water education directly to the people who rely on these ecosystems most. This program fuels passion, strengthens relationships, and empowers supporters to advocate for the places they love.
- Participated in or hosted 95 events across the state, reaching 18,000 people.
- Held our annual three-stop Guide Rendezvous series (Fort Myers, Jensen Beach, and the Keys) with around 250 guides attending statewide.
- Delivered science-based education and advocacy tools to community groups, businesses, and local leaders.
OUTREACH & ENGAGEMENT
Face-to-face engagement keeps our movement grounded in community. It’s the heart and soul of this effort. Through events, conversations, and on-the-water interactions, we bring clean-water education directly to the people who rely on these ecosystems most. This program fuels passion, strengthens relationships, and empowers supporters to advocate for the places they love.
- Participated in or hosted 95 events across the state, reaching 18,000 people.
- Held our annual three-stop Guide Rendezvous series (Fort Myers, Jensen Beach, and the Keys) with around 250 guides attending statewide.
- Delivered science-based education and advocacy tools to community groups, businesses, and local leaders.
CAPTAINS ALLIANCE
Fishing guides have been at the forefront of this movement since day one. The Captains Alliance unifies guides across Florida and equips them with the knowledge, resources, and platform to advocate effectively for clean water. This program elevates their voices and strengthens the grassroots leadership that defines our organization.
- Grew to nearly 400 active members representing every major fishery in Florida.
- Provided members with tools to educate clients and communities about Everglades restoration and water-quality issues.
- Expanded our guide network’s involvement in policy conversations, calls to action, and federal and state advocacy.
PRESERVING PARADISE
The Preserving Paradise Program unites Southwest Florida business leaders around a shared goal: protecting water quality to secure the region’s economic and ecological future. Through immersive education and hands-on experiences, participants learn how Everglades restoration directly impacts local economies, and how the business community can play a powerful role in advocating for clean water. This program builds informed, influential champions who understand the issues, the solutions, and the importance of speaking up.
- 23 local business leaders participated in this year’s cohort.
- Completed 6 in-depth courses over a three-month program.
- Equipped regional business owners with the knowledge and tools to advocate for restoration and clean-water policy.
PRESERVING PARADISE
The Preserving Paradise Program unites Southwest Florida business leaders around a shared goal: protecting water quality to secure the region’s economic and ecological future. Through immersive education and hands-on experiences, participants learn how Everglades restoration directly impacts local economies, and how the business community can play a powerful role in advocating for clean water. This program builds informed, influential champions who understand the issues, the solutions, and the importance of speaking up.
- 23 local business leaders participated in this year’s cohort.
- Completed 6 in-depth courses over a three-month program.
- Equipped regional business owners with the knowledge and tools to advocate for restoration and clean-water policy.
OUTDOOR INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT
The outdoor industry depends on clean water, and increasingly, it’s stepping up to protect it. By partnering with leading brands, we amplify the overall message, deepen industry involvement, and turn national attention toward Florida’s water crisis. Unified voices from across the outdoor world help drive awareness, action, and investment in restoration.
- Partnered with an expanded roster of brands committed to clean water, including: Columbia, Orvis, Costa, AFTCO, Marsh Wear, YETI, Simrad, Stiffy, SeaDek, TH Marine, Simms, Richardson, Power-Pole, Z-Man, Mercury, Ram-Lin, Free Fly, Mossy Oak, Turtlebox, MANG, Pelagic, Duck Camp, UFLEX, Bajio, SITKA, Benchmade, Far Bank, Fishpond, and AquaTraction.
- Activated industry support at major events, including ICAST and our annual Industry Summit, with unprecedented engagement from brand leaders. Over 50 brands in attendance at the 2025 Industry Summit in October.
- Collaborated on awareness campaigns, giveaways, and content that amplified our mission to national audiences.
- Special thank you to the support of our Legacy Partners: Hell’s Bay Boatworks, Costa, Orvis, YETI, AFTCO, Richardson, Columbia.
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