Boca Raton’s Leading Sea Turtle Rescue Operation Closes After Trump, State Cuts. But Sea Turtles Still Need Help.
UPDATE: The City of Boca Raton reached out to let us know that Costal Stewards was not involved in “protecting” nesting turtles on area beaches. That’s work performed by Boca Raton’s Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program which has taken the lead on this since 1977. The program continues. We thank the City of Boca Raton for the clarification.
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2025 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — It’s sea turtle egg hatching season on Boca Raton beaches. Despite massive Republican-led federal and state cuts to environmental organizations, the turtles are still here. What’s not is the manpower to protect them. As reported last month, the Coastal Steward program closed weeks ago due to a cut in federal and state resources.
It remains illegal in Florida to interfere with sea turtles or their nests. They are both protected under Florida’s Marine Turtle Protection Act and the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973. If you see sea turtles or their eggs on Florida beaches, you are required to stay away.
This is the closure announcement made by the Coastal Steward program a few weeks ago:
>> The Coastal Stewards, a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to the protection and study of marine life and the coastal ecosystem, announced today the closure of its Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center to the public, effective immediately. This decision was made by the organization’s Board of Trustees following a comprehensive review of its strategic priorities amid ongoing financial challenges.
“Like many environmental nonprofits, The Coastal Stewards has faced increasing difficulty securing consistent and sustainable funding,” said Shivani Gupta, Board of Trustee Member at The Coastal Stewards.
“This difficult decision allows us to reallocate resources and focus on our long-standing commitment to marine conservation education and empowering the next generation of ocean advocates.” While public access to the rehabilitation center has ended, the 13 sea turtle patients currently under care will continue to receive veterinary attention onsite. The Coastal Stewards is working in close coordination with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to ensure their safe transfer to other licensed rehabilitation facilities. Details will be shared once available.
This closure does not affect the three resident sea turtles housed in outdoor tanks at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, which remain on display and available for public viewing.
In addition, the Gift Store operated by The Coastal Stewards inside the Nature Center has closed as part of this transition.
The Coastal Stewards remains steadfast in its mission and will continue to serve the community through educational programming, outreach, and advocacy for ocean health. Over the past few years, the nonprofit has prioritized educational programming, including lectures, educational presentations, scholarships, beach clean-ups and more. <<
Turtles have been around for millions of years and doing just fine without humans nursing them. No needed to spend taxpayer money on them. I wonder how much these coastal stewards were raking in ???
Oh, stop already Boca Ben. They were doing fine BEFORE humans overran the planet, tossed their trash everywhere, polluted the air/land/water, ate the turtle eggs, and turned on disorienting lights near the ocean. Humans are the most invasive species on earth, by far, overwhelming all the other species. Sea turtles were in major decline just a few decades ago, and have rebounded only with programs like this. Wake up and stop spouting right-wing nonsense!
My parents used to bring me to Gumbo Limbo as a kid in the late 90s. I’ve seen the project first hand at the beach many times! It’s a shame!
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