Hey there! My name’s Whitney. I was absolutely tickled when I found out that the amazing Florida Leatherbacks, Inc. (FLI) picked me to represent their team in this year’s Tour de Turtles. If there’s one thing I love more than cruising through the big blue, it’s coming back to my home beach to nest. But even though I come back to the same beach year after year, I’ve noticed the beach has started to look different. Just recently, I came ashore near my usual spot to nest and ran into a big wall that I swear never used to be there! FLI told me that coastal areas are considered prime real estate and many of the world’s beaches have been heavily developed. Coastal property owners along beaches threatened by erosion often build armoring structures such as vertical seawalls, like the one I ran into, to help protect their land from erosion. Sea walls can take many forms and be constructed from wood, steel, concrete and even hundred ton bags of sand known as geotube armoring. So I’ll need your help during the race to raise awareness about this important issue facing Florida’s beaches and sea turtles. See you at the finish line—but please make sure there’s no seawall blocking the view!

I was named by my Sponsor, Florida Leatherbacks, Inc.. Check out my marathon migration map, where you can follow along as I swim to raise awareness about the threat of Coastal Armoring to sea turtles. Please help me raise awareness about my cause by supporting me!

Learn more about leatherback sea turtles.