2024 SEE Turtles Annual Report

President’s Letter

This is not the letter I had been intending to write this year. I was going to write about the first steps of a 3 year campaign to fight the tortoiseshell trade and the great work that we would be supporting in Colombia, Panama, and Costa Rica with those funds. Unfortunately, the funding for our Too Rare To Wear program is now in limbo, frozen under the recent Executive Orders of the president, with little hope of being reinstated.

Much has changed in the U.S. in the past few weeks and very little of the new situation is good news for sea turtles, the ocean, the planet, and coastal communities in the Global South. On top of the political firestorm, literal firestorms are destroying cities and forests. The problems are overwhelming but we at SEE Turtles are dedicated to redoubling our efforts to support these valuable animals and the communities who protect them.

Despite these challenges, we’re thrilled to report that for the 10th straight year, we have saved more hatchlings than ever, more than six million last year alone, bringing us to nearly 20 million total. Our Sea Turtle Conservation Trips are more popular than ever, generating more than $130,000 for conservation efforts. And our Sea Turtles & Plastic, Sea Turtle Week and Sea Turtle Community Leaders programs have all had great years.

What gives me hope in times like this is the resiliency of our global network of partners. Every time I read partner reports about the recovery of black turtles in Mexico, of hawksbill turtles in Panama, of the dramatic reduction of the tortoiseshell trade in Colombia, or the success of plastic reduction in Kenya, I see hope for the future. With sustained support, we can make progress on our efforts to reduce the illegal turtle trade, lift up emerging leaders, and help coastal communities prosper while reducing pollution.

Here at SEE Turtles, we take pride in offering concrete ways to contribute to a more sustainable planet. Come with us for one of our award-winning conservation trips to see and support the incredible work of our partners. Download our SEE Shell App to avoid purchasing tortoiseshell while traveling. Join our Turtle Club Monthly Giving Program to help us meet our most urgent conservation needs. By taking steps like these, you can become part of our community building resilience for ocean wildlife across the planet.

Brad Nahill, President, SEE Turtles