About Us
What is Boaters for Turtles?
Boaters For Turtles is a public awareness campaign that uses science and community collaboration to help protect Florida’s sea turtles from being hit by boats.
It serves as the online home for a growing network of Voluntary Sea Turtle Protection Zones, where boaters are encouraged to slow down to reduce the risk of hitting turtles.
This initiative was developed in partnership with conservation scientists, outreach organizations, and input from nearly 500 local boaters along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Voluntary sea turtle protection zones are designed using data on boat traffic, turtle sightings, and stranding records to show where turtles are most at risk.
Our Partners
This effort relies on organizations with expertise in sea turtle conservation, research, and education.
Marine Turtle Research, Ecology, and Conservation Group
Based at Florida State University, this group conducts applied, interdisciplinary research to identify key threats to sea turtle populations and develop effective, evidence-based conservation strategies. The group has contributed to impactful management outcomes, including supporting the research that informed the establishment of voluntary sea turtle protection zones in Destin and St. Petersburg, Florida.
Learn more about the Marine Turtle Research, Ecology, and Conservation Group →
Environmental Social Marketing Research Lab
Based at Colorado State University, this lab helps communities protect wildlife, themselves, and the environment through effective communication. The team leads Boaters for Turtles' audience research, strategy development, and evaluation to ensure the campaign moves people from awareness to action.
Learn more about the Environmental Social Marketing Research Lab →
Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research
Based at the University of Florida, this organization advances sea turtle research and conservation. It supported the research that led to the first voluntary sea turtle protection zones in Palm Beach and Sarasota Counties.
Loggerhead Marinelife Center
Based in Palm Beach county, this organization focuses on sea turtle research, rehabilitation, education, and conservation. It launched the first outreach efforts for voluntary protection zones and developed early messaging for boaters.
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
Based in Sarasota, this organization is an international marine science enterprise. Building on earlier efforts, it established the state’s second voluntary sea turtle protection zone and expanded outreach to local boaters.
Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Based in Clearwater, this organization works toward preserving Florida’s environment while inspiring the human spirit through leadership in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine life; environmental education; research; and conservation.
Destin Fort Walton Beach
Based in Northwest Florida, this organization supports sea turtle conservation by collecting local nesting data and providing educational resources and programming to visitors and the local community.
Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park
The Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center acts as a beacon for coastal conservation through marine animal rescue and rehabilitation, encouraging awareness with public education and opportunities for active participation.
This work is part of the Assessing Risk and Conducting Public Outreach to Reduce Vessel Strikes on Sea Turtles along Florida's Gulf Coast project, funded by the Florida Trustee Implementation Group under the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment. More information about DWH projects in the Florida Restoration Area is available from NOAA's Gulf Spill Restoration program.
Through this funding, Boaters for Turtles works to expand Florida's growing network of Voluntary Sea Turtle Protection Zones—areas where boaters are asked to slow down to avoid hitting sea turtles—into Destin and St. Petersburg, as well as supporting the existing zone in Sarasota. While Boaters for Turtles proudly supports the Palm Beach county zone, this project is limited to Florida's Gulf Coast; therefore, this zone is not part of this project.