Boaters For Turtles launches in Destin Florida with 3 ramp signs

Boaters For Turtles is rolling out this month in destin florida waters, with educational signs and QR codes going up at three boat ramps and rental companies sharing the campaign with customers before launch. The effort targets sea turtles in the voluntary protection zone covering Destin Harbor, East Pass and the area around Crab Island.

Destin Harbor and East Pass

The campaign asks boat operators to go slow for those below. Dr. Katie Abrams, a professor of science communication at Colorado State University, said surveys of over 500 boaters showed many would slow down where turtles are at risk.

“From our surveys of over 500 boaters, we were reminded of how much boaters care,” Abrams said. “Across Destin, St. Pete, and Sarasota, most said they would slow down where turtles are at risk. One thing they need is signs at the ramp to remind them. This campaign meets people where that goodwill already exists.”

Boaters For Turtles and Destin-Fort Walton Beach Natural Resources are placing the signs at Liza Jackson Park, Marler Park on Okaloosa Island and Joe’s Bayou in the City of Destin Government. Participating rental companies are also being asked to pass campaign information to customers before they head out on the water, putting the message in front of boaters at the point where their trip starts.

Florida State University Study

The rollout comes after a 2025 study led by Florida State University researchers found that 1 in 4 sea turtles found dead or injured in Florida were hit by a boat. The same study found that 98% of sea turtles that were hit do not survive. Sea turtles are often difficult, if not impossible, to see from the surface, and most strikes happen just below the waterline.

The campaign focuses on passes and inlets, where important turtle habitat overlaps with recreational boating activity. That is the part of the waterway where a ramp sign, a rental-company reminder or a slower pace can reach boaters before they enter the protection zone and before the turtles below are hardest to spot.

Boaters For Turtles Rollout

For boaters leaving Destin-area ramps, the practical change is simple: the message now starts on shore, not after they are already moving through the harbor or pass. The signs with QR codes at Liza Jackson Park, Marler Park and Joe’s Bayou, along with rental-company outreach, are the campaign’s main tools for getting the warning in front of people who may never see a turtle until it is too late.