Originally published in the News-Press by Chad Gillis on June 30, 2025
Joe Cavanaugh spent more than a decade studying one of the most highly endangered species in all of Florida, and now he’s charged with protecting one of the last waterways that represent the pupping grounds for the rare smalltooth sawfish.
Cavanaugh took over the helm as Calusa Waterkeeper May 15, becoming the group’s third leader and arguably the top advocate for the Caloosahatchee River and its watershed.
“I’m still getting my feet under me and trying to figure out all the different programs,” Cavanaugh said. “It’s a steep learning curve in the beginning.”
Cavanaugh brings a wealth of information and experience to the non-profit as he has worked with endangered fish in places like the Northwest Pacific, where he studied salmon in the context of it being a food source for indigenous communities.
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