Since 1997, the Canadian Sea Turtle Network has worked with coastal community members to increase public awareness of marine turtle conservation issues and to study the biology of marine turtles in the Northwest Atlantic. We have been successful in contributing new information that is crucial to the conservation of these species, particularly the leatherback sea turtle.
However, we still know very little about how frequently smaller, “hard-shelled” types of sea turtles enter our coastal waters. These other species of sea turtles typically prefer warmer waters than those around coastal Nova Scotia, but on rare occasions we find cold-stunned green turtles, Atlantic Ridley turtles, and loggerhead sea turtles stranded on our beaches in the fall.
These incidents are most common along the shores of the Bay of Fundy, the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia, and the Port Hood/Judique area of Cape Breton Island.
As part of our efforts to research all of these endangered species, the Canadian Sea Turtle Network launched the Sea Turtle Beach Patrol in 2016. The Sea Turtle Beach Patrol project aims to put dedicated effort into searching for sea turtles that wash up on our beaches, in the hope of better understanding the frequency and distribution of these animals in our waters.
How you can help
We accept volunteers from coastal communities around the Canadian Maritimes to monitor their local beaches for stranded animals from October through January. This year, we’re expanding our beach patrol volunteer program to include 3 different activities. You can help with as many activities as you’d like!
Postering: Our work with sea turtles started 26 years ago with posters on fishing wharfs. Posters were, and continue to be, a great resource for public education and engagement! If you think you can help put up posters in your area, we will send you a postering kit.
Patrolling: As in previous years, we are looking for volunteers to choose a beach they can access regularly to walk at least once a week to search for stranded turtles.
Driving: The best chance a turtle has for survival is to be collected and treated as quickly as possible. We are looking for people throughout the Maritimes to pick up and drive stranded turtles (dead or alive) to Halifax for assessment and/or veterinary care.
Volunteer Registration has closed for the 2024/2025 season.
We’re so grateful for your interest! If you’d like more information about the program, or to join the patrol for the 2025/2026 season, please complete our volunteer interest form and we’ll be in touch soon.
For our current volunteers, please note the following:
1) Complete your Beach Patrol Waiver
Your waiver is specific to the activities you signed up for on your registration form. Please complete the appropriate waiver for the activities you plan to participate in:
- Postering
- Beach Patrolling
- Driving
- Postering & Beach Patrolling
- Postering & Driving
- Beach Patrolling & Driving
- Postering, Beach Patrolling, & Driving
2) Meet the Team
We held a group orientation in early October 2024. You can view the recording here
3) Complete your data sheets
For patrollers: enter your weekly data via our online data form or download and print a hard copy to complete
We ask that data sheets are completed every time you finish a patrol (approximately 1x/week)
Hard copy data sheets should be scanned/photographed and sent to beachpatrol@seaturtle.ca at the end of the season
4) If you find a stranded turtle, CALL US IMMEDIATELY and then complete an incident report