Grant: 21-034C
Project Title: Expansion of Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Capacity
Project Manager: Secret Holmes
Organization: Gulf World Marine Institute (Non-Profit Organization)
Grant Amount: $7,973.99
Completion Date: 2024-01-25
Summary: This grant will provide support for Gulf World Marine Institute, Inc. to partially facilitate the expansion of available rehabilitation space for stranded sea turtles. Hurricane Sally resulted in the forced disablement and relocation of a primary large habitat. The new location will require the installation of an electrical panel to operate necessary life support equipment. Additionally, funds are being requested to purchase life support equipment (heater, pump, and filter) for a fourth T-Row system. Modeled off of existing systems already operating at the facility, the habitat would consist of eight 100-gallon pools (already purchased) connected in a single filtration system. These habitats in particular are vital for the individualized care of critically ill juvenile Kemp's ridley and green sea turtles, frequently admitted during both New England and St. Joseph Bay cold stun events.
Results: All tasks were accomplished. Some facility reorganization resulted in the habitat setup being moved to a new location, which reduced the total number of new habitats able to be installed from the original 8 predicted to 5. This still increased the capacity by 5-10 small turtles for placement in rehabilitative care. The habitat has already been utilized by a cold-stunned juvenile Kemp's ridley sea turtle that was transferred from the New England area.