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🐢🌿 Help Sea Turtles Nest Safely! 🌿🐢

Sea turtle nesting season in the Florida Keys kicks off on April 15th, and soon, our beaches will be marked by the incredible tracks of these nesting mothers. But imagine if every turtle had a clear, trash-free path to her nest—no obstacles, no hazards, just smooth sand leading to a safe nesting spot.

✨ You can help make that happen! ✨

Join Save-A-Turtle and our partners for a beach cleanup on Big Pine Key on Saturday, April 12th and be part of something truly impactful.

📅 Date: Saturday, April 12th

📍 Location: Long Beach, Big Pine Key

🔗 Register here: https://www.coastlove.org/events/long-beach-cleanup-on-big-pine-key

Let’s come together for the turtles! 💙🐢 We’d love to see you there!

LOOKING FOR MORE WAYS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

🐢🌊 Walk the Beach, Protect the Turtles! 🌊🐢

Love the ocean? Passionate about wildlife? Here’s your chance to make a real impact! We’re still looking for dedicated volunteers to join our Beach Walker & Nest Surveyor Team in Marathon and Key West!

As a Beach Walker & Nest Surveyor, you’ll help monitor sea turtle nests, report activity, and ensure our shores stay safe for these amazing creatures. Every step you take helps give baby turtles a better chance at life!

• Must be a Florida Keys resident
• Available April 15 – October 31

Ready to be a sea turtle hero? 🦸‍♀️🐢 Email volunteer@save-a-turtle.org and make a difference! 🌊💙

From our friends at FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute

We’re excited to share Florida’s finalized 2024 sea turtle nesting numbers:

Green Turtles: 14,308 (lower this year, but after last year’s record, we’re not surprised)

Loggerheads: 110,122 (a solid season!)

Leatherbacks: 1,799 (another good year—and record-breaking on the Gulf Coast!)

Kemp’s Ridleys: 34 (a new Florida record!)

Hawksbills: 0

Why does this matter?

Florida beaches host around 90% of loggerhead nests in the Southeast U.S. and about 40% of loggerhead nests worldwide—so these strong counts are critical for the persistence of this threatened species.

Florida has also become a significantly important rookery for green turtles in the wider Caribbean, making any change in their nest numbers especially noteworthy.



While green turtle numbers dipped this season, it’s no cause for alarm—they naturally fluctuate, and last year’s record was exceptional. Meanwhile, leatherbacks and loggerheads both had encouraging counts, and Kemp’s Ridleys made history right here in Florida!

A huge shout-out to all FWRI partners and volunteers for an outstanding community science effort documenting sea turtle nesting activity statewide. Thank you for continuing to support these incredible ocean voyagers!

🐢🎉 Join Us at the Marathon Seafood Festival! 🎉🐢

Mark your calendars! On March 8th & 9th, we’ll be at the Marathon Seafood Festival, ready to talk all things sea turtles! 🐢💙 Stop by our booth to learn about these incredible creatures, our conservation efforts, and how you can help protect them.

But that’s not all—this festival is packed with delicious seafood, live music, awesome vendors, and fun activities for the whole family! You won’t want to miss it!

📅 When: March 8th & 9th

📍 Where: Marathon Community Park

🔗 Details: marathonseafoodfestival.com



Swing by, say hi, and let’s celebrate ocean conservation together! 🌊🐢✨

🌊 Gear Up & Give Back! 🐢

Looking for awesome merch that looks great and does good? We’ve got you covered!

🛍️ Eco-Friendly & Ultra-Comfy Tees – Super soft, sustainably made, and perfect for any adventure.

🥤 Pirani Branded Cups – These game-changing cups keep your drinks ice cold or piping hot for hours. Seriously, they’re magic.



Best of all? 100% of proceeds go toward protecting sea turtles! 🐢💙

Shop now & make a difference! 🌍✨

SHOP HERE!

Recent boat strike victim! Red arrow indicates start of strike wound.

It's an all too common occurrence when boats and marine animals meet on the water... boat strikes! Sadly, we receive calls on these occurrences FAR TOO OFTEN.

One way that you can help protect marine life when you’re out enjoying the waterways is to have a designated marine animal spotter on board whenever possible. Somebody that is looking out constantly for the dolphins, manatees and sea turtles that may be found in our waterways.

Additionally, please make sure you’re following slow speed and no wake signs.



If you encounter an injured marine animal while you’re enjoying your boating time or out on the beach in Florida, please call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

Outreach poster developed by NOAA Fisheries and the Hawai'i Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation

Save-A-Turtle Board Meeting

(meeting link is static and good for each monthly meeting)

Monday, March 3rd

6:30 - 8:30PM

Zoom Link

Meeting ID: 829 7023 2616

Passcode: 210787

One tap mobile

+13052241968,,82970232616#,,,,*210787# US

+16469313860,,82970232616#,,,,*210787# US

President: Heather Skelley

Vice President: Dave Wiggins

Treasurer: Dawn Bowles

Secretary: Chelsea Oatman

Board Member: Harry Appel

Board Member: Jennifer DeMaria

Board Member: Alyssa Gruebele

Board Member: Jacqui Norman

Board Member: Betheny Rodden

Board Member: Jana Wiggins

Technical Advisor: Sue Schaf