The mission of the funder, supported by revenues from Florida's Sea Turtle Specialty License Plate, is to fund research, conservation, and education programs that benefit Florida sea turtles. A significant portion of this funding supports the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Marine Turtle Protection Program, emphasizing research and management activities related to sea turtles.
The Sea Turtle Grants Program aims to distribute funds each year towards sea turtle research, conservation, and education efforts specifically benefiting Florida sea turtles. The program allocates approximately 70% of its funds to support the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Marine Turtle Protection Program. The remainder, about 30%, is distributed through the grants program itself, which is managed by the Sea Turtle Conservancy. Importantly, the program dedicates a portion of its funds for emergency uses, such as addressing mass strandings, illnesses, and other threats to sea turtles. Through this allocation, the program supports Florida's Marine Turtle Permit Holders in responding to unexpected sea turtle conservation challenges.