Turtle Island Restoration Network - Gulf of Mexico

08/17/2026

This we're asking you to save the date for our virtual Microplastic Task Force info meeting September 10th, 6:00pm-7:00pm CT.

Our microplastic task force is a dedicated group of volunteers gaining experience with TIRN’s Citizen science microplastics program by collecting and processing sand and water samples to then categorize the types and quantities of microplastics found along Galveston Island.

This info meeting will walk you through the steps TIRN's Microplastic Citizen Science program follows, why collecting this data is important and what it is showing so far, and how microplastics are impacting marine wildlife and the ocean.

Stay tuned for the RSVP!

08/15/2026

08/15/2026

We're ready to rally for Gulf Wildlife this morning:
📅 Saturday, August 15 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am CDT
🐢 Balinese Room Pier, 2107 Seawall Blvd, Galveston, TX

This Day of Action is in direct response to the ESA exemption on March 31 that stripped protections of endangered species in the Gulf. This rally and others being held along the Gulf coast will highlight the current threats and demonstrate that coastal communities care about our endangered species in the Gulf!

We’ve got extra signs so come out to use your voice for those that can’t!

Learn more about this bigger initiative with our friends at the Endangered Species Coalition here: https://www.endangered.org/marine-life-rallies/

08/14/2026

Thank you for coming out and joining us during our sign making workshop at the Naked Iguana Brewery, Galveston, TX! Huge shoutout to The Art Place for the beautiful paints, our signs are poppin’ with color’s that can’t be ignored!

We're ready to rally for Gulf Wildlife tomorrow morning:
📅 Saturday, August 15 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am CDT
🐢 Balinese Room Pier, 2107 Seawall Blvd, Galveston, TX

This Day of Action is in direct response to the ESA exemption on March 31 that stripped protections of endangered species in the Gulf. This rally and others being held along the Gulf coast will highlight the current threats and demonstrate that coastal communities care about our endangered species in the Gulf!

Bring out your best sea turtle signs and rice whale signs and come out to use your voice for those that can’t!

Learn more about this bigger initiative with our friends at the Endangered Species Coalition here: https://www.endangered.org/marine-life-rallies/

08/13/2026

🎨 Today is our sign making workshop to Take Action for Endangered Species! Meet us at the Naked Iguana Brewery 5:30pm-7:30pm in the indoor section to get crafty for conservation!

🛢Oil and Gas activities in the Gulf of Mexico have been exempted from the requirements of the Endangered Species Act, removing key safeguards for our endangered marine species like the Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle and the Rice's Whale.

👉Join us in protest to show that coastal communities care about Gulf Wildlife!

‼ RSVP at: https://seaturtles.org/event/take-action-for-endangered-species-sign-workshop-august-13th/

**On August 15th 10am-11am we will gather at 2107 Seawall in Galveston by the Balinese Room Pier marker for the ESA Rally with the signs made during the workshop!

In collaboration with the Endangered Species Coalition organizations are hosting rallies across the Gulf- Find a Rally near you: https://www.endangered.org/marine-life-rallies/

08/12/2026

Join us TOMORROW at Naked Iguana Brewery for a sign making event to prepare for the Endangered Species Act Rally Saturday. We will be in the indoor section of the brewery and will have cardboard and paint supplies, all you need to bring is a friend!

📅 When: Thursday August 13th, 2026
🦎 Where: Naked Iguana Brewery, 1828 The Strand, Galveston, TX 77550
⏰ What time: 5:30pm-7:30pm CST

RSVP HERE: https://seaturtles.org/event/take-action-for-endangered-species-sign-workshop-august-13th/

🐢

08/04/2026

TIRN's Ocean Program Director Joanie, and Environmental Program Coordinator, Brittany had the pleasure of Joining Rodney Texas Gulf Coast Campaigner with Earth Works on a SouthWings flight yesterday morning.

Scott Humphries- who we cannot recommend enough- flew us along Galveston Bay to see a view of industry from the sky. These photo's, just a few of many, illustrate the sites along the route that are polluting our air and our waters and impacting surrounding communities and wildlife. These sites are characterized by different colors of toxic blue, black and yellow from industrial byproducts, white and rust on the tall distillation towers, and hundreds of white storage tanks. Petrochemical expansion must stop!

Thank you for the tour, and thank you Scott for the safe, smooth, and informative flight!

🌎🐬🌊

07/31/2026

Tomorrow is the Day! We still have some spots available for our Marine Debris Survey this Saturday August 1st 10am-11am in Galveston Texas.

Join us for a data driven NOAA citizen science program adopted by Turtle Island Restoration Network. Together, we’ll collect and record debris, helping scientists better understand what’s washing ashore. By participating you are helping prevent sea turtles from interacting with the harmful debris we remove!

🐢 Reserve your spot today: https://seaturtles.org/mdsurvey/

07/29/2026

‼ We still have spots available! Join us for our Marine Debris Survey this Saturday August, 2026 in Galveston Texas.

This isn’t your average beach cleanup, it’s part of a NOAA citizen science program adopted by Turtle Island Restoration Network. Together, we’ll collect and record debris along a 100-meter stretch of East Beach, helping scientists better understand what’s washing ashore and where it comes from.

👣 There’s a short walk involved (about 100 ft), and everyone is welcome to join!
✨ Spots are limited — 12 spaces remain for this survey.

🐢 Reserve your spot today: https://seaturtles.org/mdsurvey/

07/29/2026

Texas community, specifically Port Lavaca - our friends at Matagorda Bay Toxicology Study are hosting a community meeting to discuss the ongoing research in Matagorda Bay System. Swipe to see the event details and evening schedule. We hope to sea you there!

"osh Lerner, Ph.D., from Texas A&M University will talk about the status of fishes and invertebrates in the bay and how it has changed since the 1980s.

Mike Page from Compass Environmental Solutions will talk about a side scan survey to map the bay floor and provide insight into the location of oyster reefs in the bay.

Jess Dutton, Ph.D., from Texas State University will talk about mercury concentrations in sediment, fishes, and shellfishes in the Alcoa Superfund site and how it compares to other areas within the Matagorda Bay system."

Photo of Port Lavaca's Lighthouse Beach Fishing Pier 1 by Bill Harvey.