A St. Lucie County extension campaign to help protect sea turtles has earned an award from the University of Florida.

St. Lucie extension's turtle-friendly beaches program earned a gold award from UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences in a competition that reviews marketing efforts by IFAS entities. Award recipients include Ken Gioeli, St Lucie County Natural Resources Extension Agent, Janet Bargar, Indian River County Water Quality Extension Agent, and Raghu Constbruck, Graphic Artist with the University of Florida Graphic Arts Department.

The campaign included development of displays and brochures to encourage residents in St. Lucie and Indian River counties to follow sea turtle-friendly practices, such as dimming beach front lighting, removing beach furniture and equipment that could inhibit nesting, protecting and restoring sand dunes and cleaning marine debris regularly.

The displays included brochures and posters and were rotated throughout a number of libraries and other public places in hopes of reaching as many local residents as possible.

A $2,275 Sea Turtle Specialty License Plate Grant from the non-profit Caribbean Conservation Corporation helped pay for the campaign. For additional details, please contact Ken Gioeli, St Lucie County Natural Resources Extension Agent, at (772) 462-1660.

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