The non-profit Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC) is dedicated to the protection of sea turtles through out-reach, advocacy and education, will begin a new Sea Turtle Habitat Awareness Campaign this spring. As part of this campaign, STC will provide coastal businesses with educational materials about Florida’s sea turtles, their habitats and protection issues. Educational materials include Do Not Disturb door hangers (pictured at right), table top tents and placemat coloring sheets. Working together, STC and local environmental groups, STC and local environmental groups hope to increase awareness about ongoing sea turtle issues, including the loss and degradation of Florida’s sandy beaches, which are important for both sea turtles and humans alike.

Florida’s natural coastal regions are being put under more and more pressure as the population in coastal cities and towns continues to grow in size and requires additional resources. Coastal areas provide vital nesting habitat for threatened and endangered sea turtles and contain some of the most fragile ecosystems in Florida. Inappropriate development and human encroachment on nesting beaches can disturb, or discourage, nesting female sea turtles and increase hatchlings mortality after emerging from a nest.

In March, 2002, STC began the campaign to increase awareness about the threats to Florida’s sea turtle nesting habitat with a focus on seven counties, Sarasota, Collier, and Lee on the Gulf coast and Brevard, Volusia, Indian River and Martin on the Atlantic coast. This campaign is being funded through a grant from the Sea Turtle License Plate Grants Program, which receives revenue from the sale of the Florida Sea Turtle Specialty License Plate. The Sea Turtle Habitat Awareness Campaign will include information on information about sea turtles, the coastal habitat’s that sea turtle depend upon, the importance of protecting Florida’s coasts and ways people can reduce their impacts on Florida’s coasts.

In addition to the educational materials, coastal businesses in the seven counties can be nominated for a “Sea Turtle Friendly Award.” Nominations can be submitted by anyone who knows of a coastal business that is working to protect sea turtles and their nesting habitat. The awards Program is designed to encourage more responsible management of coastal properties to benefit sea turtle nesting, and in the process, raise awareness about those establishments doing their part to protect sea turtles and coastal habitats.

These materials are now available for any groups in Florida wishing to promote sea turtle friendly practices in their area. You can request materials using an online form.