Sea Turtle Oversight Protection Inc

“Since 2007, the rescue program started by Richard and Siouxzen WhiteCloud has grown into a network of over 200 trained volunteers who have been responsible for rescuing and releasing more than 240,000 sea turtle hatchlings. These hatchlings would have perished, and no one would have known had it not been for the work of these volunteers. Because of the documentation by our volunteers, FFWCC and US Fish and Wildlife Service USFWS and other state agencies now have scientific information about the causes of the disorientation events that result in population decline. In addition to rescue work, these volunteers, who have contributed a cumulative total of over 450,000 people hours have done nest monitoring, scientific documentation of disorientation events, training programs, conducting public education outreach, and scientific administration of data to assure compliance with state, federal and local laws for preservation of this species. Our efforts in this regard prove that citizen involvement can serve the greater good by helping local, state and federal governments in conserving endangered species. Sea Turtle Oversight Protection, Inc. scientific data process and documentation methodology has been held in high regard within the scientific communities of sea turtle conservation worldwide. For example, we were recently contacted by someone from India who is working on sea turtle preservation to request permission to use our methodologies to assist him in his disorientation documentation efforts.”

“Volunteers working under the FFWCC conservation permit are required to participate in a minimum of 4 hours of annual technical, classroom style training. Each new volunteer is also required to complete an initial 40 hours of supervised field training with a senior volunteer. Sea Turtle Oversight Protection, Incs future programs will be an extension and expansion of those in which we are already engaged. All these programs and activities are designed to establish in perpetuity a home for sea turtles that is built upon the ethical principles of educational outreach, scientific documentation, and civic actions. We secured additional funding and improved our ability to create this type of home for sea turtles. We will expand and stabilize our programs by hiring key field, administrative and scientific personnel.”