Sea Turtle Grants Program Awards More Than $300,000 to Research, Conservation and Education Projects in Florida

April 4, 2016

The Sea Turtle Grants Program (STGP), funded by the sale of Florida’s Helping Sea Turtles Survive specialty license plate, recently awarded $311,649.72 to 24 different projects benefiting Florida sea turtles as part of the 2016-2017 grant funding cycle.

Each year, the Sea Turtle Grants Program distributes money to coastal county governments, educational and research institutions and nonprofit groups through a competitive application process. The sea turtle specialty license plate is also the primary source of funding for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Marine Turtle Protection Program.

The following organizations received grants for their approved projects for the 2016-2017 cycle:

• Alachua Conservation Trust: Beachfront acquisition strategies to protect and enhance sea turtle nesting habitat
• University of Florida – Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research: Increasing the quality and quantity of Florida’s beaches for sea turtles
• Stetson University College of Law: Sea Turtle Law and Policy Course
• University of Florida – Whitney Laboratory: Educational exhibits for Sea Turtle Discovery room
• Inwater Research Group: Assessment of the Distribution of Large Immature and Adult Green Turtles Along Hawk Channel in the Florida Keys
• Mel Fisher Marine Heritage Society: Sea Turtles and Us: Our Past, Present and Future Together
• Nova Southeastern University: Carpenter House Marine Environmental Education Center lighting display
• Inwater Research Group: Traveling Turtles: A Statewide Traveling Trunk Program
• Conservancy of Southwest Florida:  Sex determination for Immature Kemp’s Ridley Turtle in the Ten Thousand Islands
• Friends of South Walton Sea Turtles: Promotion of sea turtle conservation in Walton County, Florida
• Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission: Reprint of educational handouts
• Mote Marine Laboratory: Purchase of computer, endoscope and necessary attachments for Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital
• University of Central Florida – CREATE: “Sea Turtles,” an animated film
• Sea Turtle Conservancy: Archie Carr Refuge Education and Conservation Program
• South Florida Museum: Sea Turtle Conservation exhibit
• Clearwater Marine Aquarium: Sea turtle anesthesia and sterilizer equipment
• Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation: ATV for Sanibel Island sea turtle surveys
• Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife: Sea turtle diagnostic and therapeutic equipment
• Florida State University: Assessing the effects of the recreational bay scallop fishery on marine turtles in the Big Bend of Florida
• Florida Atlantic University: Breeding sex ratios of three imperiled marine turtles nesting in southern Florida
• University of Central Florida: Diet characterization of green, loggerhead and Kemp’s ridley turtles in Florida
• Florida Leatherbacks, Inc.: Leatherback sea turtle research in southeast Florida
• Hidden Harbor Marine Environmental Project (The Turtle Hospital): Surgical CO2 laser for FP tumor removal
• Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands Program: Providing sea turtle educational experiences for students in coastal, low-income schools

The sea turtle plate is the number two overall selling specialty tag in Florida, and the number one environmental specialty plate. By purchasing the sea turtle specialty license plate, Floridians are voluntarily funding important programs to save endangered sea turtles and their habitats.

To learn more about the Sea Turtle Grants Program and the “Helping Sea Turtles Survive” specialty license plate, please visit www.helpingseaturtles.org.

Posted in Florida, General|