A few years ago, sea turtle enthusiasts convinced the Santa Rosa County Board of Commissioners to approve an ordinance that was designed to keep Navarre Beach sea turtle friendly. The ordinance, commonly called “leave no trace,” prohibits items from being left on the beach overnight, unless they have been properly permitted by the county. Despite the best efforts made by various conservation groups to spread the word about sea turtle nesting and the ordinance, more education is needed.

“Everybody’s got their project, but what’s the synergy? How do we collectively do a lot of great things with the limited amount of resources we have?” asked Bob Boston, who works on behalf of the Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary Committee.