Contact: Dan Evans
352-373-6441 or drevans@conserveturtles.org
August 2023

The non-profit Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC) announced today that it will begin accepting applications for the Sea Turtle Grants Program through 5:00 pm, Friday, November 17, 2023, for the 2024 – 2025 grant cycle. Application forms and general information about the program may be obtained from the Sea Turtle Plate Grants Program website at www.helpingseaturtles.org/apply-for-a-grant/ or by contacting Dan Evans at (352) 373-6441 or stgp@helpingseaturtles.org.

Funded by a portion of revenues from Florida’s Sea Turtle Specialty License Plate, the Sea Turtle Grants Program has distributed more than $4.3 million over thirteen years in support of nearly 350 sea turtle research, conservation, and education projects throughout Florida. All of the funding generated by the tag is required by law to support sea turtle protection in Florida. Seventy-percent of the funding goes to the Marine Turtle Protection Program to support research and management activities related to sea turtles. The remaining 30% of revenue is distributed to STC, which then redistributes the funding through a competitive grants program supporting turtle projects that benefit Florida sea turtles.

Numerous groups and institutions around the state are working to protect the threatened and endangered sea turtle species found nesting on Florida beaches and swimming in Florida’s coastal waters. Through the grants program, coastal governments, Florida non-profit organizations, education, and research institutions are eligible to receive funding to support their activities. An independent committee of experts review grants and select the best ones for funding each year.

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

Background: The Helping Sea Turtles Survive specialty license plate was passed by the Florida legislature in 1997. The turtle specialty license plate costs $23.00 above the normal Florida license plate fee. Seventy percent of the proceeds support the Florida Marine Turtle Protection Program. The remaining thirty percent is routed through the nonprofit Sea Turtle Conservancy, which distributes the funding through the Sea Turtle Grants Program.

The Florida-based Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC) is the oldest sea turtle research and conservation organization in the world. STC was founded as a nonprofit group in 1959 by the late Dr. Archie Carr, a zoology professor and natural history author at the University of Florida. For more information about STC, visit www.conserveturtles.org.