Mickler’s Landing Turtle Patrol partners with Jacksonville University to Launch Sea Turtle Program

The shared logo for the partnership between Mickler’s Landing Turtle Patrol and Jacksonville University

Jacksonville University (JU), in partnership with Mickler’s Landing Turtle Patrol (MLTP), announced the launch of its Sea Turtle Program, expanding its work in marine conservation to one of Florida’s most iconic marine animals. The program, launched on World Sea Turtle Day (June 16), is designed to protect and conserve sea turtles and their coastal habitats through collaborative research, education, and community engagement.

“This is a homecoming for me,” said Lucas Meers, Director of Jacksonville University’s Sea Turtle Program and FWC Marine Turtle Permit Holder for Mickler’s Landing Turtle Patrol. “I had such an impactful experience as a student at JU, and I attribute a lot of my success to the skills I learned and relationships I made here.”

Florida is home to the world’s largest population of nesting loggerhead sea turtles, and critical nesting habitat for green sea turtles and leatherbacks. Nesting loggerheads are currently listed as threatened in the U.S. and vulnerable globally. The Sea Turtle Program partnership supports daily nest monitoring from April 15 through October 31 along a 4.6-mile stretch of beach from Sawgrass Beach Club to the northern boundary of the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve in addition to community outreach and engagement.

Marked sea turtle nests along Ponte Vedra Beach.

Meers began his conservation journey as a student at Jacksonville University’s Marine Science Research Institute, joining the Turtle Patrol as a volunteer after graduation. Over a decade, he became deeply involved in marine conservation, including a role at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, where he helped develop its first wildlife conservation strategy. In 2021, Meers became the lead coordinator of the Mickler’s Landing Turtle Patrol.

During the nesting season, volunteers are on the beach daily, 30 minutes before sunrise, to locate new nests and monitor existing ones. Volunteers collect data to support research that helps protect the species and inform coastal development policies and expand our understanding of sea turtles. Nests are checked for impacts or changes, such as predation or washovers from high tides, that may affect their success. Three days after a nest hatches, it undergoes further evaluation.

“I was drawn to this particular turtle patrol for its exceptional focus on science and education,” said Shea Lox, a community volunteer with MLTP since 2022. “The new partnership with JU is extremely exciting, as I know it will enhance our research and educational outreach. Our team loves being stewards of our sea turtles and their habitats, and having JU behind us further amplifies our voice and impact in our community.”

Several JU students are already working with the program, gaining real-world research experience while learning data collection techniques. Meers believes the program has a bright future ahead.

“This program is about more than research and data collection — it’s about empowering students and our community to protect a vital part of Florida’s ecosystem,” he said. “There are so many exciting opportunities to expand our work and better understand sea turtles and how our decisions impact their populations and habitats.”

To contribute to the incredible work saving sea turtles and engaging our community, click here.