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ENDANGERED SEA TURTLES:Aviation Is Making A Difference

Did you know? There are 7 species of sea turtles in the world:

• loggerhead • green• leatherback• hawksbill• Kemp’s ridley• olive ridley • flatback

Adult sea turtles range from less than 100 pounds (ridley species) to about 1,300 pounds (leatherback)

They lay their eggs on tropical and subtropical beaches

Some have specialized diets, such as jellyfish (leatherbacks), sponges (hawksbills), & seagrass (green turtles)

They have existed for >100 m.y.

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Most species are highly endangered, many populations have been reduced from human activities, such as:

• killing for food or income• habitat destruction• fisheries bycatch• egg collection

They depend on coastal beaches for reproduction, many of which are also heavily developed by humans

The U.S. has one of the largest loggerhead nesting populations in the world, but also, green, leatherback, Kemp’s ridley, and hawksbill turtles nest in the U.S.

About 90% of sea turtle nesting in U.S. occurs in Florida

And, did you know?

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In 2014, turtles cold-stunned in New England needed help, and one of our own did just that!!

Through his contacts in General Aviation, Leslie Weinstein, of True-Lock LLC & the ACCSTR Development Board, got the

word out and pilots volunteered their time and planes to

transport turtles to rehabilitation facilities across the SE U.S.

Leslie’s efforts, and those of the General Aviation industry,as well as many volunteers, made it possible for hundreds of cold-stunned sea turtles to get the medical treatment and rehabilitation

they needed so they could be released back into the wild

Reduce negative impacts from humans, such as:• bycatch mortality• coastal development• unsustainable killing of turtles and taking eggs• light pollution• vessel strikes• marine debris (plastic, nets, fishing line, etc.)

Protect & restore coastal and foraging habitats

Improve sea turtle resiliency to Climate Change

Improve our understanding of their biology, populations, and ecology to inform management actions

What do we need to do to help sea turtles?

Excellence in 1986 by the University Board of Regents of the State of Florida in recognition of the outstanding achievements and pioneering research of the late Archie Carr and the University of Florida’s international reputation in the field of sea turtle research.

At the University of Florida, there’s a special place working on many of these important sea turtle issues ….

The Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research (ACCSTR) at the University of Florida was established as a Center of

ACCSTR Research & Conservation – 3 Areas of Focus Long-term Research – nesting beach & in-water studies provide

vital life history information

Healthy Marine Ecosystems – understanding ecological roles of sea turtles to aid in restoration of ecosystems

Protecting Florida’s Natural Heritage - improving our understanding of Florida sea turtles to be better stewards of these valuable populations

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ACCSTR Research Accomplishment Highlights

Role of sea turtles in beach stabilization

Lighting disorientation & solutions

Solving the “mystery of the lost year” for Atlantic loggerheads

Growth rates• Identified slow growth rates• Increased knowledge of age to maturity

Population genetics• Source populations identified for foraging

ground turtles

Understanding nutritional ecology of green turtles

Information & communication systems• CTURTLE listserv (>1,600 subscribers)• Online bibliography (>21,000 publications)

Helping sea turtles is important, and there are many ways to help

The Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research needs funding for valuable ongoing research, graduate student studies, and expansion of research needed

to better understand sea turtles and their conservation needs

The innovative Aircraft Donation Program is one way we raise funds

After All, Turtles Fly Too!!

Your aircraft donation supports research & scholarships

Interested in turning your aircraft into a tax deduction? We are accepting fixed wing and rotorcraft aircrafts. The Aircraft Donation Program is working with the University of Florida Foundation to support sea turtle research, as well as student scholarships.

Why donate? aircraft maintenance costs lapsed pilot medical difficulty selling aircraft storage fees tax deduction

Making a difference.

Shaping the future.

Impacting humanity.

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The ACCSTR Has Many Collaborators:Disney’s Animal, Science & Environment ProgramCaretta Research Project, Georgia

Geronimo Semester at Sea Program, St George’s School, Rhode Island

Bahamas National TrustFamily Island Sea Turtle Research & Education,

BahamasFriends of the Environment, Abaco, BahamasCape Eleuthera Institute, Eleuthera, BahamasThe Nature Conservancy – Bahamas ProgramPro-TAMAR, BrazilDept of Oceanography & Fisheries, University of

AzoresSea turtles can use all the help we can give them, and some people go above and beyond….

If you’re interested in donating an aircraft or need more information

please contact:

Leslie Weinstein | True-Lock LLC (208) 375-4846 or (208) 484-7774

or leslie@true-lock.com

If you’d like more information about the Archie Carr Center for

Sea Turtle Research visit:

www.accstr.ufl.edu

Thank

You !!

Call

Today!