St. George Island Realty Helps Sea Turtles

The Grant

The St. George Island Volunteer Turtlers was awarded a $1,000 grant from the Sea Turtle Grants Program.

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 Caribbean Conservation Corporation. Information about the Sea Turtle Grants Program can be found at www.helpingseaturtles.org.

Comprised of island residents and headed up by Bruce Drye, the SGI Volunteer Turtlers monitor and protect nests laid by sea turtles that return to the beaches of St. George Island every year. Volunteers also give "turtle talks" and educate visitors with various educational handouts as they walk the beaches.

"We’ll use the money to educate the public about sea turtles", Bruce is quoted as saying.

Bruce Drye has been monitoring sea turtle nests on St. George Island since 1984 and retired from the Florida Park Service and St. George Island State Park in 1998. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has issued him a Florida Marine Turtle Permit based on his experience and knowledge of Marine Turtles. A permit is required to work with and handle endangered and threatened species like sea turtle.

A Sign For the Times

After much consideration as to how and on what the grant money would be used for, Bruce Drye decided to have a "permanent" sign printed. The deciding factor was the sign’s location.

John and Kristen Shelby of St. George Island Realty offered Bruce the use of a sign frame formally used by them to advertise real estate for sale.

John and Kristen are long time residents of St. George and love sea turtles. They have restored dune habitat on their beachfront property which helps sea turtles, and they have purchased a sea turtle license tag.

The sign frame location on east Gulf Beach Dr. is ideal for a sign reminding visitors and residents alike, that we should keep our beaches clean and turn out beachfront lights for sea turtles.

With the help of Rick Tennyson of Tennyson Painting and Trim LLC, the sign was installed in the frame, and will remain in this location until the property is developed.

The sign is an attractive addition to the island thanks to the generosity of  John and Kristen Shelby. www.sgirealty.com