Turtle license plates help protect sea creatures

The first day of May signals the official start of sea turtle nesting season in Florida. Like the massive amphibious landing on D-Day, each year thousands of sea turtles storm Florida's sandy nesting beaches in the battle for survival.

Sea turtle conservation groups, researchers and coastal counties all play important roles in helping sea turtles survive. Through the Florida Sea Turtle Grants Program, which is funded entirely by sales of the sea turtle specialty license plate, groups around Florida are receiving financial reinforcements in the form of grants supporting education, conservation and research projects benefiting Florida sea turtles.

This year grants totaling more than $360,000 were awarded to 29 different organizations and local governments. The non-profit Caribbean Conservation Corporation, which administers the Sea Turtle Grants Program, hopes the projects chosen for support this year give sea turtles a better chance at survival.

Launched in 1996, the "Helping Sea Turtles Survive" specialty license plate raises money to support the Sea Turtle Grants Program. Funding is awarded through a competitive application process to local governments, educational institutions and Florida-based nonprofit groups for projects involving research, education and conservation benefiting Florida sea turtles.

The sea turtle plate is one of the top five selling specialty tags in Florida, having sold almost 80,000 plates in 2007.

To learn more about the Sea Turtle Grants Program and the "Helping Sea Turtles Survive" specialty license plate, please visit www. helpingseaturtles.org.