Sea Turtle

Conservation

Upcoming Turtle Digs 

Turtle Digs will be here soon! Due to Covid-19, we are adapting our presentations based on current conditions:

Changes you may see include: 

+Max reservation size is 50 guests

+Six-foot distancing guidelines

+Masks recommended for all attendees

+Upgraded speaker system for optimal listening and  guest participation

+Virtual options on Facebook, Instagram, and ZOOM

What to expect at a Turtle Dig: Participants receive a small presentation about sea turtle biology, threats to their survival, and ways to help protect turtles, all while standing only a few feet away from a nest evaluation conducted by trained and permitted CCinc volunteers! If any straggler hatchlings are found during the excavation, guests will watch them be released into the ocean at the end of the Dig experience.

Turtle Dig experiences will take place:

• Months: July and August
• Date: 3 days after a nest hatches
• Time: 8am
• Location: Ocean Grill 1050 Beachland Blvd. Vero Beach, FL 32963
• Cost: FREE (Donations Recommended)

Vero Goes Zero Initiative  

Here in Vero Beach, plastic waste is found in the stomach of practically EVERY turtle investigated by Coastal Connections. As a community, we cannot ignore this plight. Our seas cannot absorb our plastic waste and our marine life cannot digest it. In efforts to combat these issues, our Vero Goes Zero initiative is expanding our current projects to help out local businesses and our community.

Beach Basket Program

-Baskets will be available at the following beach parks for the public to collect trash and other debris in the area for volunteers to collect data and weight each week. Wabasso, Tracking Station, Round Island, South Beach, Flamevine, Humiston, Sexton Plaza, and Jaycee Beach.

-Our original pilot program located at county beach parks has been quiet a success! In response, the city of Vero Beach and CCinc. will be joining hands to expand the program to 5 city beach parks.

- Beginning in June, CCinc. will be offering the beach basket program at private business and neighborhood community beach accesses starting with Rio Mar Country Club. If you want to add baskets at your access, please email info@coastal-connections.org. 

Plastic Alternatives Program 

-In light of COVID-19, CCinc. will be expanding the plastic alternatives program by providing local participating restaurants with a 1 month supply of plastic alternative, sustainable options such as take-out utensils, drinkware, and to-go containers.

-In addition, CC inc. will be creating a large marketing campaign for business participants to promote their sustainable options. Finally, we will continue to work with those business participants to promote long term sustainable practices and complete elimination of single-use plastics. 

-This program is still looking for additional financial support, if you are interested in supporting small businesses as they transition to new sustainable standards while recovering from COVID-19, please visit the link below. 

Adopt-A-Nest

This program is quite unique in that it allows you to follow your adopted nest through its incubation. Along with reproductive success information, every adoption comes with a personalized certificate, educational materials, and amazing CCinc swag items. 

We have already adopted 30 nests and have opened up a new waitlist for 2020. If anyone is interested in joining this waitlist for the 2020 Nesting season. Please email: lisa@coastal-connections.org

Your adoption directly benefits the continued effort of protecting our sea turtles. If your adopted nest hatches in July or August it may even be used for a public Turtle Dig.

Florida’s Surfing Evolution and Preservation Foundation

$5,000 

Thanks to the generosity of the Florida’s Surfing Evolution and Preservation Foundation, CCinc will be expanding its Plastic Alternatives Program. CCinc will be working with a number of local restaurants in Vero Beach to help them update their single use items to sustainable options and provide some assistance during the Covid-19 recovery period. This amount will allow us to fund one restaurant with a one month supply of alternative cups, straws, utensils, and to-go bags. As well as, provide educational opportunities and professional marketing materials to promote the business's transition to using plastic alternatives for a more sustainable future. 

National Save The Sea Turtle Foundation

$15,000 

Thanks to the generosity of the National Save the Sea Turtle Foundation, CCinc will be able to supply new and improved educational displays at Turtle Digs, purchase a new speaker and mic system for Turtle Digs, improve the Turtle Friendly Certificate Program, provide supplies to Turtle Friendly hotels, and purchase new sea turtle rescue equipment. These three programs are a necessity for sea turtle conservation in Indian River. The success of these programs would not be possible without our dedicated volunteer support. With the help of this grant, CCinc. will continue to have a positive impact on sea turtles in Indian River County and the surrounding region.