Inwater Research Group

08/30/2026

A very successful Florida Keys trip! 🐢🌊

This past week, we were out studying sea turtles near the Marquesas Keys, one of our oldest project sites. We captured, tagged, and released 14 turtles, including 9 adult greens, 4 loggerheads, and one Kemp's ridley. This was only the 3rd Kemp's we've captured here since starting in 2002!

We also collaborated with the Kate Mansfield, PhD collecting turtle...p**p! Yes, even turtle p**p can tell scientists a lot about a species, including diet, health, and pollution exposure. Luckily, green turtle p**p floats and makes for simple (& stinky) data collection. 😆

We ended the week with a tour of the Key West Turtle Cannery Museum. We learned so much about the harvesting industry that landed green turtles on the endangered species list. We are grateful that our conservation work in this area contributes to the regrowth of this population.

Till next time!

08/27/2026

Check out page 4 for our 25th anniversary article!

Two and a half decades of sea turtle conservation on the Treasure Coast thanks to our dedicated team. 💙🐢

Please enjoy the new issue of the St. Lucie Voice: https://online.anyflip.com/mmja/cuwb/mobile/index.html

08/26/2026

08/26/2026

It's National Dog Day 🐶🐾💙

When we're not working with the four-flippered sea critters, we're spending our time snuggling our four-legged companions. Meet the IRG doggie crew! 

08/21/2026

It's Hei Hei! 🐓

Hei Hei is an adult female loggerhead that our night crew originally encountered and tagged on our nesting beach on June 6th, 2026. Two weeks later, we saw her nesting again on June 20th.

Hei Hei was then encountered by Sea Turtle Conservancy on July 31 and received a satellite tag as part of their Tour de Turtles program, tracking the migration of sea turtles from their nesting beaches to their foraging grounds. Hei Hei was sponsored by and received her name from the Disney Conservation team.

Just three nights ago, we saw Hei Hei again! On August 18th, she came up to nest on our beach for a third time. We can't wait to see where this girl goes next. To follow along with Hei Hei's journey, visit https://conserveturtles.org/find-my-turtle/.

08/17/2026

Last week, our crew was out in Florida's Big Bend region looking for sea turtles. 🐢

These pristine, shallow seagrass meadows make the perfect habitat for green, loggerhead, and Kemp's ridley turtles. After a week in the field, we captured and tagged a total of 32 turtles, including 21 greens and 11 loggerheads. We even tagged an adult male loggerhead!

Our biologists also conducted comprehensive health assessments and collected blood and genetic samples from each individual. These data are essential for understanding the Big Bend population and identifying long-term trends that may influence their health and survival.

08/13/2026

Last weekend, IRG was proud to sponsor the Pirate Night Back to School Game at Clover Park! 🏴‍☠️🌴

Thanks to the St. Lucie Mets, proceeds from every ticket sold were donated to benefit The Children's Museum of the Treasure Coast, with support from the Children’s Services Council of St. Lucie County.

Even better, students in grades K–12 received free tickets!

We love seeing our community come together to support local kids, education, and the organizations making a difference right here on the Treasure Coast.

08/08/2026

Just in: our 30,000th turtle 🐢🎉

We recently encountered (and surpassed) an incredible milestone: 30,000 sea turtles!

Dating back to 1976, this number represents turtles encountered across our research projects throughout Florida, including St. Lucie County, Palm Beach County, the Florida Keys, Florida’s Big Bend Region, and our nighttime tagging program.

But 30,000 is more than a number. It represents decades of research, thousands of hours in the field, and an invaluable body of data that continues to support sea turtle conservation. Working with 6 of the 7 sea turtle species and a wide range of life stages, every turtle we encounter helps us better understand and protect these incredible animals.

08/03/2026

Last week, our team headed out to Jupiter Inlet, FL, for a successful day of sea turtle research—and one that made a little IRG history. 💚🐢

For the first time ever, our field crew was made up entirely of women. Together, they safely captured, measured, assessed, and tagged 7 juvenile green sea turtles, collecting valuable data that will help us better understand and protect this important population.

But this trip was about more than data. It was a reminder of how far we've come and the incredible people who make this work possible. We are so proud to have built a team where talented, passionate women are leading the way in marine science and conservation. Their dedication, teamwork, and love for these animals inspire us every single day.