Longboat commissioner creates challenge to support sea turtle programs

Sea turtle nesting season is in full swing on Longboat Key and across Florida, and District 1 Commissioner Gary Coffin said he wanted to do more for a cause that’s personal to him. 

At the commission’s last meeting before the summer recess on June 28, Coffin told his fellow commissioners that he and his wife, Lynn, recently adopted a nest through Longboat Key Turtle Watch. This put into motion the “Elected Officials Sea Turtle Nest Adoption Challenge,” something that LBKTW had never done before. 

“What I wanted to do was to put the challenge out to all the commissioners statewide — and not just commissioners, but any elected officials — to help the local turtle patrol programs,” Coffin said.

Vice President of LBKTW Cyndi Seamon said when Coffin came to the organization with the idea, they worked together to form a plan. Town Clerk Trish Shinkle helped to create a formal letter to be sent to neighboring jurisdictions to encourage other local officials. 

The challenge calls on elected officials to take part in Coffin’s inaugural challenge by adopting a nest through local sea turtle patrol programs by donating $200. In the letter, Coffin said officials should take part in the initiative to promote environmental stewardship and community engagement. 

The letter also stated that officials who choose to take part should contact the Longboat Key’s Town Clerk office to be included on a press release, which will also be forwarded to the Florida League of Cities for its Quality Cities Magazine. 

Coffin said the motivation behind his idea was to try to get the word out to as many other officials and members of the public as possible. 

Sea turtle conservation is personal to him, Coffin said, having spent time volunteering at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium. He also said that, while living on a barrier island, sea turtle nesting is a big part of the community. 

“It’s part of our island,” Coffin said.

Longboat Key Turtle Watch offers a couple of different ways for people to donate and get involved, including the “Sponsor a Nest” initiative. 

For a minimum donation of $30, a donor’s name can be placed on the back of a stake at a turtle nesting site. The donor will also be informed of the location of the nest and sent a picture of the nest and stake. After it hatches, the donor will also receive an update on the success of the nest. 

To “adopt” a nest, donors must contribute at least $125. For this, the donor will get their name on the back of a stake, be informed of the location, be given a picture of the nest and be notified of its success. Additionally, adopters will receive a video with a special thank-you message from LBKTW. After the nest is excavated and the stakes are removed, the adopter will be given the named stake with a branded LBKTW logo and the year of the nest, as well as a LBKTW shirt. 

For more information on Longboat Key Turtle Watch or the “Sponsor a Nest” program, visit the organization’s website at LBKTurtleWatch.com.