Clearwater Marine Aquarium Hosts Sea Turtle Awareness Day
Help clean the beach for the baby turtles and learn how you can protect this endangered species
Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA), a marine life rescue center, is kicking off turtle nesting season by hosting the first Sea Turtle Awareness Day on Clearwater Beach at Pier 60 on Saturday, May 2 from 9am – 1pm.
The public is invited to help clear the beach for the turtle babies from 9am – 11am, followed by fun, educational activities with Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s sea turtle nesting patrol team. The community can help create a safe, happy environment for the upcoming sea turtles and their hatchlings.
Sea turtle nesting season occurs May – October. Sea turtles nest at night and can be impeded by artificial lights, chairs, sandcastles, toys, and trash – all which can prevent adults from nesting successfully and avert hatchlings from reaching the sea.
Sponsored by Duke Energy, Sea Turtle Awareness Day aims to educate people about the importance of lighting, keeping the beaches clean and protecting this endangered species. Other sponsors include the City of Clearwater, Florida Wildlife Alliance, Keep Pinellas Beautiful, and Ocean Conservancy.
Participants are requested to bring a refillable water bottle, insect and sunburn repellant, and wear closed toed shoes. Bags, gloves and pickers will be provided. Each participant who collects a bag of trash receives a free ticket to Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
WHEN: Saturday, May 2
9am-11am – Beach Clean Up
11am – 1pm – Fun, educational turtle activities
WHERE: Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach
MORE INFO: http://www.seewinter.com/turtleawareness
About Clearwater Marine Aquarium: Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working marine rescue center dedicated to inspiring the human spirit through leadership in education, research, rescue, rehabilitation and release. CMA is home to rescue dolphins, sea turtles, river otters, stingrays, nurse sharks and more. Winter, the dolphin’s story of survival after injury that caused her to lose her tail, has impacted millions of people around the world. A major motion picture, Dolphin Tale, highlighted her life story in 2011. The sequel, Dolphin Tale 2, was released in September 2014 and features the incredible story of Hope, a young resident dolphin of CMA. The mission and potential to change people’s lives differentiates Clearwater Marine Aquarium from any other aquarium in the world.