Conservation | Save the Sea Turtle

Sea Turtle Foundation Funds Hawksbill Research Project with Palm Beach Zoo

Filled under: Conservation | Tuesday, May 26th, 2009 |

We are happy to announce that we have agreed to fund a Hawksbill Research and Conservation Program at the Palm Beach Zoo. The project is headed by Mr. Larry Wood. The objectives of the project are:

1) To characterize the Hawksbill Turtle populations of Florida and the surrounding areas, and how they interact with their environment

2) To promote and facilitate the study and conservation of sea turtles and their habitats in Florida and elsewhere, with a focus on local, in-water populations

3) To encourage collaboration among agencies, scientists, institutions, user groups, and the public to study and protect the region’s marine environment

For more information about the project, please visit www.floridahawksbills.com. Learn more about the Zoo’s conservation programs at www.palmbeachzoo.org. Please check back for updates as I receive them.

Lionfish in the Florida Keys

Filled under: Conservation | Monday, January 19th, 2009 |

After reading the article “Lionfish’s arrival unwelcome event” in the Sun Sentinel today, I am worried about their effect on the sea turtle population in and around South Florida. The article reports the finding of a lionfish in the Florida Keys, which was apparently caught and removed from the waters, but who knows how many others are there. The lionfish is a non-native species with no predators who eats pretty much anything it can find, so unfortunately, if they are allowed to take over the reefs, they will be eating food items also enjoyed by our sea turtles, such as sponges and crustaceans. Although I do enjoy the beauty of these fish, I feel that we do need to keep these eating machines off our reefs no matter what it takes in order to save the sea turtle population here in Florida, not to mention the other species that call Florida reefs home.

Nov 09

Archive for the 'Conservation' Category

Florida’s specialty tags

Filled under: Conservation | Sunday, November 9th, 2008 |

Florida currently has 109 specialty tags to help raise money and awarness for the causes. One of those happens to be the Florida Sea Turtle Tag. In Broward and Palm Beach counties, these tags are among the most popular with 5,313 and 7,921 currently active in each county respectively. Throughout Florida, these tags have generated a revenue of $1.3 million for 2007! So, where does this money go?

Funded by a portion of revenues from Florida’s Sea Turtle Specialty License Plate, the Sea Turtle Grants Program distributes funds each year to support sea turtle research, conservation and education programs that benefit Florida sea turtles. Approximately 70% of the funding generated by sales of the tag goes to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Marine Turtle Protection Program to support research and management activities related to sea turtles. Approximately 30% is distributed to the Sea Turtle Grants Program. The Sea Turtle Grants Program is administered by the non-profit Caribbean Conservation Corporation.

How do you get a Florida Sea Turtle Tag? Florida residents can go to your local Tax Collectors Office or County Tag Agency. Non-residents can purchase a vanity tag at the turtle store!

Source: Sun-Sentinel, Caribbean Conservation Cooporation

How you can help save sea turtles

Filled under: Conservation | Sunday, November 9th, 2008 |

For over 150 million years, sea turtles have roamed the Earth and now due to human evolution, all species are either threatened or endangered. They need our help! A few ways each of us can assist this amazing species:

Reduce the amount of plastic garbage you produce.

Don’t release balloons or allow plastic bags to fly away - sea turtles try to eat these items.

Turn off beach lighting. It disorients the sea turtles.

Reduce chemicals and fertilizers.

Recycle fishing line and other items.

Use caution while boating. Boat injuries are often fatal to sea turtles.

Adopt a sea turtle nest.