Meet Fred Speaker

Fred Speaker's journey with Florida Oceanographic began with a family visit, where he discovered that a high school friend was involved in water testing with the organization. With a background in Water Supply in the Marine Corps and a deep interest in the environment, Fred saw volunteering as an opportunity to make a difference. Since joining the team in 2018, he has dedicated over 300 hours to water testing at Greenfield Park in Hobe Sound.

Established in 1998, the Florida Oceanographic Water Ecosystem Surveys (FLOWSS) program assesses the trends and changes in water quality throughout the St. Lucie Estuary (SLE) and southern Indian River Lagoon (IRL).

Fred tests at one of our 47 active water quality monitoring sites across 10 zones in the SLE and IRL. Volunteer Citizen Scientists record water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, and water clarity on a weekly basis. These parameters provide valuable insight to the current health of the estuary and the suitability of this habitat for key indicator species.

Originally from Michigan, Fred moved to Ft. Lauderdale at the age of eight before settling in Martin County with his wife and two children in 1996. After a career spanning over twenty years in law enforcement across Broward and Palm Beach counties, Fred transitioned to work for the State of Florida, eventually retiring as the Regional Manager of an investigative field office in Miami and West Palm.

In his leisure time, Fred finds solace in home gardening. He also enjoys the serenity of boating for some much-needed sunshine and relaxation.

Snap Shot:

Born: Michigan

College: Nova Southern University

Favorite Local Restaurants: U-Tiki and Woods in Jupiter. Both have very good food and comfortable atmosphere.