About
Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC) is the world's oldest sea turtle research and conservation group. Headquartered in Gainesville, Florida, the international 501(c)(3) nonprofit was incorporated in 1959 as the Caribbean Conservation Corporation and has spent more than six decades studying and protecting sea turtles and the habitats they depend on, with field programs across the Caribbean, Atlantic, and Pacific.
Mission
STC's mission is to ensure the survival of sea turtles within the Caribbean, Atlantic and Pacific through research, education, training, advocacy and protection of the natural habitats upon which they depend.
What they do
- Research — long-term field studies, including the green turtle tagging and monitoring program at Tortuguero, Costa Rica, begun in 1955, and satellite telemetry tracking of more than 550 tagged turtles.
- Conservation — protecting nesting beaches and turtle populations at research and field sites in eight countries, including Costa Rica, Panama, Bahamas, and Bermuda.
- Advocacy — policy initiatives at the state, national, and international levels, including a dedicated Florida Policy Initiative and a beachfront lighting program to reduce hatchling disorientation.
- Education and training — public education programs, eco-volunteer experiences in Costa Rica and Panama, the annual Tour de Turtles satellite-tracking event, the Barrier Island Center in Florida, and administration of the Florida Sea Turtle Grants program. STC has trained more than 1,200 researchers worldwide.
History
The organization traces its roots to Dr. Archie Carr, who began studying sea turtles in 1950 and whose 1956 book The Windward Road first alerted the world to the plight of sea turtles, inspiring the founding group known as the Brotherhood of the Green Turtle. The Caribbean Conservation Corporation was incorporated in 1959 by Joshua B. Powers, with Dr. Carr serving as scientific director from 1959 until his death in 1987. Milestones include the start of a juvenile turtle program in Bermuda in 1968, assistance in establishing Tortuguero National Park in 1970, the establishment of the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge in Florida in 1990, the opening of the John H. Phipps Biological Field Station in Costa Rica in 1994, the first Internet-based satellite-tracking education program in 1996, and the opening of the Barrier Island Center and launch of Tour de Turtles in 2008. The organization adopted the name Sea Turtle Conservancy in 2010 to better reflect its mission.
Financials
According to Form 990 filings compiled by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer (EIN 59-6151069), Sea Turtle Conservancy reported total revenue of $4.09 million, total expenses of $4.44 million, and total assets of $9.34 million for fiscal year 2024. The organization publishes its annual reports, independent financial audits, and IRS Form 990 filings publicly.
