Welcome to the Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program

Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is a private, not-for-profit research university, in Davie, Florida, with a state-of-the-art oceanographic and marine biology research institute in Dania Beach, FL. As employees of NSU, the Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program (BCSTCP) is responsible for 24 miles of Broward County beaches. The BCSTCP provides conservation for threatened and endangered sea turtles. Our mission is to contribute to sea turtle conservation through beach monitoring, providing thorough and relevant data to local, state, and federal conservation agencies, and active engagement with our community through outreach and education.

Accounting for 90% of the nation's sea turtle nesting, Florida beaches are the most important areas for nesting in the United States. Florida is the largest nesting area in the world for loggerhead sea turtles, hosting 90% of nesting for the North Atlantic loggerhead population and 40% of loggerhead turtle nesting globally. Locally, Broward County beaches serve as a consistent nesting habitat for three sea turtle species: the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), and leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). All three species are considered to be endangered or threatened globally by the IUCN Red List and are protected by the U.S. Endangered Species Act, as well as by Florida Statutes. Through nest monitoring and public engagement, the BCSTCP furthers conservation efforts of these imperiled species.