Florida Cabinet Designates “Sea Turtle Protection Months” and Honors Caribbean Conservation Corporation for its Forty Years of Sea Turtle Conservation

Date: May 25, 1999
Contact: Gary Appelson
Phone: (352) 373-6441

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA — Governor Jeb Bush and the Florida Cabinet today passed two resolutions related to sea turtle protection in Florida. In a unanimous resolution the Cabinet recognized the significant role that Florida’s beaches play in the survival of threatened and endangered sea turtle populations. Noting that over 90% of all sea turtle nesting in North America takes place on Florida beaches, the Cabinet designated the months of “June, July, and August as Sea Turtle Protection Months.” During these months sea turtle nesting in Florida is at its peak. The Cabinet, in noting that “actions taken in Florida to protect sea turtles and their habitats will profoundly affect the global survival of the species,” encouraged all state agencies to “provide heightened protection for sea turtles during these months, and implored the citizens of Florida to be aware of the increased vulnerability of sea turtles on Florida beaches at this time.”

In a companion resolution, the Governor and Cabinet recognized and commended the Florida-based Caribbean Conservation Corporation “for its outstanding contributions to Florida in conserving, protecting and defending Florida’s sea turtle populations.” Noting that 1999 marks the 40th anniversary for the Caribbean Conservation Corporation, the resolution addressed the groups accomplishments and activities from its founding in 1959 by Dr. Archie Carr and others, up to the present. The Cabinet commended the group’s state, national, and international efforts at sea turtle protection, research, and education.

The resolution specifically recognized CCC’s “successful campaign to encourage the governments of Costa Rica, Panama, and Nicaragua to cooperate in the regional protection of sea turtles.” It recognized the group’s efforts in support of Florida’s Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, “the most important nesting site for loggerhead turtles in the Western hemisphere,” and its leadership role in the establishment of Florida’s new sea turtle license plate Program. And in praising its educational efforts, the Cabinet noted CCC’s Internet web site, which “provides a unique education Program for schoolchildren that now reaches over 150,000 students in 25 countries.”

In addressing the Cabinet, CCC Executive Director David Godfrey stated, “While it is an honor for CCC to be recognized for its four decades of hard work, the real value in these two resolutions will be heightened awareness among Floridians of the need to protect sea turtles and their nesting beaches. It is critical for Floridians to recognize that their actions, both individually and through the decisions of their elected officials, are directly impacting sea turtle survival. We have a national and international responsibility to help ensure a future for sea turtles.”

Representing CCC at the Cabinet meeting were members of the staff, Board of Directors, Scientific Advisory Committee and members of the Carr family.


Below is a copy of the resolution recognizing the significant role of Florida’s beaches:

WHEREAS, over ninety percent of all sea turtle nesting in North America takes place on Florida beaches, including virtually all nesting by green and leatherback turtles; and

WHEREAS, five species of sea turtles are found in Florida waters: the federally and state listed endangered green, the federally and state listed threatened loggerhead, the federally and state listed endangered leatherback, the federally and state listed endangered hawksbill, and the federally and state listed endangered Kemp’s ridley; and

WHEREAS, Florida’s beaches, including Jacksonville, are home to one of the two largest loggerhead sea turtle nesting populations in the world; and

WHEREAS, the east coast of Florida hosts one of the largest nesting colony of green turtles and leatherbacks in the continental United States; and

WHEREAS, Florida’s inland coastal waterways, such as those found in the Jacksonville area, provide important developmental habitat for juvenile sea turtles from around the world; and

WHEREAS, action taken in Florida to protect sea turtles and their habitats will profoundly affect the global survival of the species; and

WHEREAS, sea turtles exist in a fraction of the numbers they once did, with humans playing the leading role in their decline; and

WHEREAS, the months of June, July and August provide the peak turtle nesting seasons in Florida; and

WHEREAS, nesting sea turtles are particularly vulnerable during the critical time; and

WHEREAS, despite federal and state legal protections, Florida’s sea turtles continue to face a host of threats to their survival.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Governor and Cabinet of the State of Florida do hereby designate the month of June, July and August as

SEA TURTLE PROTECTION MONTHS

and encourage all state agencies to provide a heightened protection for the sea turtles during these months, and implore the citizens of Florida to be aware of the increased vulnerability of sea turtles nesting on Florida beaches at this time.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, the Governor and Cabinet of the State of Florida have hereunto subscribed their names and have caused the Official Seal of the State of Florida to be hereunto affixed in the City of Jacksonville on this 25th day of May, 1999.

Jeb Bush, Governor
Katherine Harris, Secretary of State
Bob Butterworth, Attorney General
Robert Milligasn, Comptroller
Bill Nelson, Treasurer
Bob Crawford, Commissioner of Agriculture
Tom Gallagher, Commissioner of Education


Below is a copy of the resolution honoring CCC:

WHEREAS, the Caribbean Conservation Corporation was founded by Joshua B. Powers, John H. Phipps, and Dr. Archie Carr in 1959 to protect sea turtles and the habitat upon which they depend; and

WHEREAS, the Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC) chose sea turtles as the focus of its conservation efforts in part because these ancient creatures are among the most important indicators of the health of the world’s marine ecosystems; and

WHEREAS, the CCC is recognized nationally and internationally as a protector of the sea turtle; and

WHEREAS, the CCC lead a successful campaign encouraging the governments of Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua to cooperate in the regional protection of sea turtles; and

WHEREAS, the CCC completed an international film documentary about sea turtles that focuses on its turtle conservation efforts in Florida and Costa Rica; and

WHEREAS, the CCC continues to raise national awareness and support for the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge in Florida, the most important nesting site for loggerhead turtles in the Western Hemisphere; and

WHEREAS, the CCC led the campaign to establish Florida’s new sea turtle specialty license plate and is working with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Marine Turtle Protection Program to promote the sale of this license plate; and

WHEREAS, through its Internet web site, the CCC provides a unique education Program for schoolchildren which reaches over 150,000 students in 25 countries; and

WHEREAS, this year marks the fourth year of CCC’s popular Sea Turtle-Tracking Education Program, an education project allowing students to learn about sea turtles while watching their satellite-tracked movements on the Internet; and

WHEREAS, 1999 marks the 40th anniversary of the Caribbean Conservation Corporation’s efforts to protect endangered and threatened Florida sea turtles.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Governor and Cabinet of the State of Florida do hereby recognize and commend the

CARIBBEAN CONSERVATION CORPORATION

for its outstanding contributions to Florida by conserving, protecting and defending Florida’s sea turtle populations.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, the Governor and Cabinet of the State of Florida have hereunto subscribed their names and have caused the Official Seal of the State of Florida to be hereunto affixed in the City of Jacksonville on this 25th day of May, 1999.

Jeb Bush, Governor
Katherine Harris, Secretary of State
Bob Butterworth, Attorney General
Robert Milligasn, Comptroller
Bill Nelson, Treasurer
Bob Crawford, Commissioner of Agriculture
Tom Gallagher, Commissioner of Education