Sea Turtle Grants: Competitive Grants

The Sea Turtle Grants Program, funded by Florida's Sea Turtle Specialty License Plate sales, supports vital research, conservation, and educational initiatives for Florida's marine turtles. The program allocates 30% of license plate revenue to grant applications, with a maximum of four submissions per organization. Priority is given to projects that enhance the preservation of marine turtles and align with recovery plans and the Marine Turtle Protection Program's goals.

Bckground
Funded by a portion of revenues from Florida’s Sea Turtle Specialty License Plate, the Sea Turtle Grants Program distributes funds each year to support sea turtle research, conservation and education programs that benefit Florida sea turtles.
Approximately 70% of the funding generated by sales of the tag goes to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Marine Turtle Protection Program to support research and management activities related to sea turtles. Approximately 30% is distributed to the Sea Turtle Grants Program. The Sea Turtle Grants Program is administered by the non-profit Sea Turtle Conservancy.
A maximum of four Grant Applications for funding can be submitted by an eligible organization/institution/agency for consideration by the Sea Turtle Grants Committee. Funds can be requested for projects in one of three categories (conservation, education or research):
that clearly add to the preservation of Florida’s marine turtles; that accomplish tasks included in the current recovery plans for marine turtles; that address the goals of the FWCC’s Marine Turtle Protection Program; and that are consistent with subsection 370.12 (1) (c), Florida Statutes.
Activities that shall be considered eligible include, but are not limited to:

• Conservation

Protection of marine turtles, their nests and hatchlings from harmful activities on the nesting beach, including lights and predators, such as the replacement or modification of existing lights near marine turtle nesting beaches. This would include the purchase and installation of shields, light barriers, tinted glass or other structures that reduce or restrict the amount and direction of lights that directly or indirectly illuminate the beach or create a glow that is visible from the beach. This includes the care and rehabilitation of sick or injured sea turtles, such as the purchase of equipment and supplies related to treating, holding and maintaining turtles.
Research
Research directly related to the conservation of marine turtles. Such research should provide information for the improvement of strategies to protect marine turtles and may include
assessments of coastal lighting; beach nourishment; coastal armoring and other shoreline protection structures; in-water distributions; developmental habitats; migration patterns; rehabilitation of injured or diseased marine turtles; epidemic diseases, including Fibropapillomatosis; fishing gear; and general life history information.
Education
The development, production, and distribution of educational materials (including printed materials, interpretive displays, signs, etc... and programs that promote the understanding of the biology, health, life history and habitat needs of Florida’s marine turtles and the protection and conservation of these species. This could also include equipment purchases related to educational presentations and displays.

Eligibility

Florida Coastal Local Governments, Florida-based Non-Profit Organizations, Education and Research Institutions that actively participate in marine turtle research, conservation, and educational activities within the state of Florida are eligible to apply for and receive grant funds. Projects must: clearly add to the preservation of Florida's marine turtles; accomplish tasks included in the current recovery plans for marine turtles; address the goals of the FWCC's Marine Turtle Protection Program; and be consistent with subsection 370.12 (1) (c), Florida Statutes.

Ineligibility

Please note that grant funds may not be used for materials that contain fundraising or membership development language, or to support any type of litigation. Indirect Costs can not be more than 5% of Requested Funds.Grant funds may not be used for developing or printing materials that contain fundraising or membership development language.