Conservation

For over 20 years, the National Save The Sea Turtle Foundation’s Adopt-A-Nest program has supported NOVA Southeastern University Oceanographic Center’s Students and Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program. The operation employs 23 field workers who are primarily NSU graduate students or recent graduates. They patrol over 38 km of Broward County beaches each morning at dawn, from March 1 through September 30. Endangered sea turtle nests are identified, marked, located by GPS and sometimes relocated from intensely lighted beaches to avoid hatchling disorientation.

The National Save The Sea Turtle Foundation has had a long-standing relationship with our colleagues at the Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge in St. Croix, USVI. Their groundbreaking leatherback turtle research and conservation programs have changed the trajectory for this species in that area.

Established in 2016 when biologist Jacquelyn Kingston, after working with several adults with special needs, recognized that increased conservation awareness can enrich the lives of this under-served audience. For 18 years, Kingston has been authorized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to monitor sea turtle nests along a three-mile stretch of beach in southern Palm Beach County, Florida. Creating Sea Turtle Adventures offered a way to provide more environmental education through hands-on activities such as beach cleanups, observation of turtle monitoring, and presentations that effectively engage adults with disabilities in the community.

After finishing up her graduate studies and moving to Vero Beach, FL, Kendra Cope noticed a need in the communities in and around Florida’s Indian River County to provide interactive and educational programs that contribute to the protection of sea turtles and the habitats they need to survive. In 2017, Coastal Connections, Inc (CCinc) became a reality. Featuring programs that inspire communities to protect turtles and their nests on the beach, encourage sustainable practices via their “Vero Goes Zero” program, and Sea Turtle-Friendly Hotel Certifications, Coastal Connections is making a big difference for sea turtles in Indian River County.