Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research

Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research, Charitable organisation, 200 Seawolf Parkway, Dept. Marine Biology, Bld 3029 Suite 280, Galveston, TX.
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The mission of the Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research is to facilitate research activities at all organizational levels, from molecular to population and ecosystem levels, that will ultimately result in restoration of sea turtle populations. Our shipping address is:
1001 Texas Clipper Road
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research
℅ Department of Marine Biology
Texas A&M University at Galveston
Galveston, TX 77554

Welcome home Rhossi!
08/14/2026

Welcome home Rhossi!

We’ve received almost two dozen injured Kemp’s ridley washbacks this month and our Rehabilitation Program needs your hel...
08/14/2026

We’ve received almost two dozen injured Kemp’s ridley washbacks this month and our Rehabilitation Program needs your help! You can support their care, recovery, and return to the wild by shopping our Amazon Wishlist:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/4EOLDU4THK0Z?ref_=wl_share

This year, the Texas coast had the highest Kemp’s ridley nesting numbers in recorded history, 696 nests! Although most hatchlings have made it offshore, we do anticipate seeing more of these young turtles wash ashore. With the right care they can eventually be released offshore to contribute to this endangered population.

If you see a sea turtle on the beach, please call the Texas statewide sea turtle hotline at 1-866-TURTLE-5. The GCSTR answers the hotline 24/7. We are the permitted lead for stranded sea turtles from the Louisiana border to East Matagorda.

A Visual Impact of Marine Debris🐢This sea turtle sustained a severe entanglement injury from discarded monofilament fish...
08/13/2026

A Visual Impact of Marine Debris🐢

This sea turtle sustained a severe entanglement injury from discarded monofilament fishing line around its front flipper. The line tightened over time and cut through the tissue and into the underlying bone.

Fishing line entanglements can cause tissue necrosis, infection, and permanent loss of function. Our rehabilitation hospital has treated several turtles with these injuries. Some required surgical amputation of the affected flipper.

Please dispose of monofilament and other fishing gear properly. Use designated fishing line recycling tubes whenever available. Proper disposal can prevent serious and potentially fatal injuries to sea turtles and other marine animals.

Our Rescue and Recovery program needs your help! To support our mission, please consider visiting our Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/4EOLDU4THK0Z?ref_=wl_share

Our interns are wrapping up their summer with us! 🐢 These four Marine Biology students at Texas A&M University at Galves...
08/06/2026

Our interns are wrapping up their summer with us! 🐢

These four Marine Biology students at Texas A&M University at Galveston each pursued a unique area of focus while working together in our sea turtle rehabilitation hospital and contributing to GCSTR’s sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation efforts.

Yesterday, they presented to the Mary Moody Northen Endowment alongside fellow grant recipients, highlighting what they learned and accomplished this summer. We are so proud of all they achieved and grateful to the Mary Moody Northen Endowment for funding these internships and investing in the next generation of marine conservationists!

Another GCSTR patient has returned to the Gulf! 🌊🐢This juvenile green sea turtle was admitted with a fractured carapace ...
07/29/2026

Another GCSTR patient has returned to the Gulf! 🌊🐢

This juvenile green sea turtle was admitted with a fractured carapace and superficial injuries after a concerned member of the public called the 1-866-TURTLE-5 hotline. Thanks to their quick action, our rescue team responded promptly. Staffed by the GCSTR 24/7, we provide sea turtle response coverage from the Texas/Louisiana border to East Matagorda Bay.

Our team collaborated with our veterinary partners at the Houston Zoo and developed a treatment plan that supported this turtle's recovery. Thanks to the dedication of our rescue and rehabilitation team, including staff, interns, and volunteers, this patient healed and was released back into the Gulf.

Our rescue and rehabilitation programs rely on donations to provide critical care for stranded sea turtles. To support our mission, please consider visiting our Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/4EOLDU4THK0Z?ref_=wl_share

Last week, our Marine Debris Team removed over 165 pounds of litter from Rettilon Road Beach on Bolivar Peninsula, inclu...
07/28/2026

Last week, our Marine Debris Team removed over 165 pounds of litter from Rettilon Road Beach on Bolivar Peninsula, including over 5,000 pieces of plastic!🐢🚮

Texas receives ten times more debris than other Gulf states and every pound removed from this coastal habitat makes a difference!

Interested in helping us? Sign up for our Marine Debris Volunteer List and help us keep Texas beaches clean for sea turtles:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfdUP_oelDTA1MbqZyFdncI1kOcrJFd25VCKnrfL66v1za-Mw/viewform?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio

We are often asked if we offer tours of our facilities. At this time, we’re unable to provide public tours due to our st...
07/23/2026

We are often asked if we offer tours of our facilities. At this time, we’re unable to provide public tours due to our state and federal permits.🐢

We’re excited to share that the Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research is building the Cheryl Mellenthin Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital and Educational Outreach Center on the upper Texas coast, scheduled to open in 2028. This facility will expand our ability to rehabilitate sea turtles, advance scientific research, strengthen conservation efforts, and provide new opportunities for the public to engage with sea turtle conservation.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support. Until then, follow our social media for updates on our research, rehabilitation, conservation initiatives, volunteer opportunities, and the progress of this exciting new facility. Every follow, share, and show of support helps protect sea turtles along the Texas coast!

This could be you tomorrow morning! 🚮🐢Join our Marine Debris Team as we clean up the coast at Rettilon Road tomorrow, Ju...
07/22/2026

This could be you tomorrow morning! 🚮🐢

Join our Marine Debris Team as we clean up the coast at Rettilon Road tomorrow, July 23rd, from 8–10AM.

Whether you’re a new or returning volunteer, we would love to have you join us and help make a difference. Let’s see who can collect the most pounds of trash!

Sign up, bring a friend, and participate in a morning of giving back to our coast:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSetgMaK52mupTSDl6EvVgkn3t2uQep776cKJ2bquboYV5PbJw/viewform

The nesting patrol season may be over, but our work to protect sea turtles continues! Join our Marine Debris Team for a ...
07/17/2026

The nesting patrol season may be over, but our work to protect sea turtles continues! Join our Marine Debris Team for a beach cleanup and help keep the Texas coast safe for sea turtles and other coastal wildlife.🐢🌊

When: Thursday, July 23rd 8:00 to 10:00 AM
Where: Rettilon Road Beach, Bolivar Peninsula

Every piece of debris removed helps protect an important coastal habitat and makes a lasting impact on wildlife. Whether you're a returning volunteer or joining us for the first time, we'd love to have you there!

Sign up here:
https://forms.gle/PA9rU2WgGxmnbr438

Another season is in the books! Sea Aggie Sea Turtle Patrol has completed its 11th nesting season! 🎉🐢Our largest communi...
07/15/2026

Another season is in the books! Sea Aggie Sea Turtle Patrol has completed its 11th nesting season! 🎉🐢

Our largest community based volunteer core yet! 450+ signed up to patrol the beaches from Bolivar Peninsula to East Matagorda April-July, to search for nesting sea turtles or tracks. Since the program began, they have logged more than 190,000 miles and over 40,000 hours on foot and by UTV.

Every season, their dedication has helped us locate nests, excavate thousands of critically endangered Kemp's ridley eggs, transport them to Padre Island National Seashore (PAIS) for incubation and release, and document loggerhead nesting along the upper Texas coast.

Thank you to our funders and partners for continued support: NRDA Texas Parks and Wildlife Trustees, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas General Land Office, National Park Service, Padre Island National Seashore, Galveston Bay Area Chapter - Texas Master Naturalist, Casa del Mar Beachfront Suites, Galveston County Road and Bridge, Galveston Island State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife, San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge, and Matagorda LCRA.

We are grateful for all our volunteers, UTV sponsors, and partners who made this season possible. We look forward to another year of protecting Texas sea turtles!

Address

200 Seawolf Parkway, Dept. Marine Biology, Bld 3029 Suite 280
Galveston, TX
77553

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