Grants, volunteers and planning help sea turtle season begin
Above, the Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association held its first meeting of the year earlier this month, in preparation for the upcoming sea turtle nesting season, which begins on May 1. For more information, and to donate to support their conservation efforts, visit bocagrandeseaturtles.org. Photos submitted
BY ARLENE HALL, BOCA GRANDE
SEA TURTLE ASSOCIATION
Today is the “home opener” for the 2026 sea turtle nesting season on Gasparilla Island. The nesting season runs from May 1 through Oct. 31 and the Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association reminds everyone to keep the beaches clean, flat and dark. Our local nesting sea turtles, mainly loggerheads and some green turtles, come out of the water between dusk and dawn to lay their nests and we all need to do our part to support them.
Pick up and properly dispose of all trash and ensure beach equipment (chairs, umbrellas, fishing pole anchors, etc.) is off the beach from dusk until dawn. Knock down sandcastles and fill all holes in the sand. And because nesting sea turtles can become disoriented by artificial lights, remember to turn off all lights visible from the beach, whether they are inside or outside the home, including flashlights and flash photography. If you see a nesting sea turtle, keep your distance and do not touch or disturb her. If you see a sea turtle that is injured or appears in distress, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) hotline at 1-888-404-3922.
The Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association (BGSTA) Turtle Patrol volunteers have been preparing for the season for months now. Many people recognize BGSTA volunteers sporting their hi-viz shirts as they walk the beaches at dawn, monitoring nests and collecting data for FWC, but most don’t realize how much preseason work goes into making this organization operate effectively each nesting season.
Because the BGSTA does not receive any state or federal funding, and is not part of a larger parent organization, it must raise all $28,000 for operating costs itself, solely through donations and grants. Thus, fundraising has been a key focus of this small non-profit organization since January. The Locals for Locals fundraising campaign, which began in late January and ends today, sought financial support from local residents. On May 2, the BGSTA’s popular Adopt-a-Nest fundraising program is set to kick off after several months of preparations.
For a $125 donation, “adoptive parents” are assigned a nest which they symbolically adopt, receiving updates throughout the incubation period, a special plaque commemorating their adoption and perhaps the opportunity to be present when the nest is excavated. More information about the Adopt-a-Nest program and about donating in support of the organization’s mission can be found on the BGSTA website, bocagrandeseaturtles.org.
Over the past few months, the BGSTA also applied for and was awarded two grants to help support their conservation efforts. The Boca Grande Woman’s Club awarded the BGSTA a Community Grant for its field operations, and the Sea Turtle Conservancy awarded the organization a Mini-Grant to support its Marine Turtle Permit activities.
As early as February, the BGSTA began the process of identifying additional turtle patrol volunteers to supplement the 20 returning patrollers from 2025. This season, there are five new individuals joining the BGSTA team to help ensure sufficient coverage for all seven zones, which cover the island from the north end all the way to the state park boundary at the south end.
In March, BGSTA’s policies and field operation protocols were reviewed and adjusted as necessary to remain in accordance with FWC requirements and organizational goals, with associated manuals updated and shared with volunteers. Volunteers also participated in mandatory FWC online training to qualify to be on the FWC Marine Turtle Permit. An initial on-beach orientation was held for the new volunteers and everyone gathered for a preseason team meeting in April. During this time, HATCH, the organization’s UTV, also was sent out to be serviced and prepped for on-beach duty this season.
Finally, throughout these past months, all necessary field operation materials have been inventoried, with supplies replenished and organized in the BGSTA trailer. The trailer itself even underwent some desperately needed in-house maintenance and repairs and was recently moved to its on-island location for efficient daily access.
Most of these preseason preparations were outside the public’s view but all were successfully completed because of the extraordinary teamwork of BGSTA volunteers. We are certainly ready and eager to get back out there on the beach to document whatever activity the 2026 nesting season brings. Throughout the season, watch the Beacon for weekly nesting statistics updates and monthly articles about the progress of this year’s sea turtle nesting activities. Let the season begin.
