Mote Marine Laboratory is proud to announce that it has been awarded a grant of $9,752.75 from the Sea Turtle Grants Program, funded by the sale of Florida’s sea turtle license plates. This grant will support the purchase of seven submeter GPS units to enhance the accuracy of nest staking and restaking efforts along the Gulf of Mexico.
Mote Marine Laboratory’s Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program (STCRP) has documented sea turtle activities and the status of shoreline habitat along 35 miles of coastline since 1982. This area includes portions of Sarasota and Manatee counties and hosts the highest density of loggerhead sea turtle nests in the Gulf of Mexico.
The STCRP supports the conservation of marine turtles through the collection of fundamental biological data about nesting and hatching. These data contribute to the overall understanding of nesting trends, which are utilized by local, state, and federal entities. Program scientists lead research using long-term datasets to study sea turtles’ natural behavior, quantify how nesting populations are adapting over time, identify important habitats, and answer critical questions about sea turtle behavior. These findings help reduce human impacts on nesting beaches and better conserve these keystone species.
Mote and other organizations’ conservation work has aided in the exponential increase of nesting numbers of loggerhead and green sea turtles in the region since the early 2000s. However, sea turtles still face numerous threats, including predator activity on incubating nests and hatchlings, disorientation due to artificial lighting, interactions with beach furniture, and negative interactions with humans. At sea, turtles are increasingly at risk from pollution and boat strikes. Public education is a crucial part of the program’s efforts to mitigate these threats.
The grant from the Sea Turtle Grants Program will allow Mote’s Sea Turtle Conservation & Research Program to precisely record nest locations, improving the reliability of nest monitoring data and ensuring the successful identification and protection of sea turtle nests. This is critical for the ongoing conservation of these endangered species.
“We are extremely grateful to the Sea Turtle Grants Program for this vital funding,” said Melissa Macksey, Senior Biologist and Conservation Manager of STCRP. “Acquiring accurate nest data is essential for our efforts to protect sea turtle populations, and these GPS units will significantly enhance our ability to safeguard these species.”
The Sea Turtle Grants Program is funded by the sale of the “Helping Sea Turtles Survive” specialty license plate and is administered by the Sea Turtle Conservancy. The program provides competitive grants to support the conservation, education, and research of Florida’s marine turtles.