One hub for sea turtle reports and rescue coordination
TurtleSync is a student built platform that gives the public one clear place to report injured, stranded, or nesting sea turtles. The long term goal is to connect those reports with authorized rescue teams, turtle hospitals, and researchers across coastal regions.
What TurtleSync does
Today, people often search on their own to figure out where to report a turtle in trouble. Every region has different hotlines, websites, and organizations. TurtleSync is designed to act as a front door that collects detailed reports, organizes them, and prepares them to be routed to the correct partners.
- Collects reports of strandings, nesting activity, hatchlings, and unusual behavior.
- Captures location, photos, and basic condition details in a structured format.
- Organizes data by region to support both response and long term research.
- Is built to work with existing hotlines and permitted organizations, not replace them.
Why it matters
Sea turtles face threats from boat strikes, entanglement, cold stun events, light pollution, and habitat loss. Many people care and want to help, but they are not sure who to call or what to do in the moment. A clear reporting hub can reduce confusion and capture valuable information that would otherwise be lost.
As the platform grows, summary data can help conservation teams answer questions such as:
- Where are strandings and injuries most common by season and beach?
- Which risks appear most often in public reports?
- How does nesting and hatchling activity change over time?
How TurtleSync fits into the larger picture
TurtleSync is not an emergency hotline, and it does not replace the legal and permitting structure already in place for sea turtle rescue. Instead, it aims to:
- Make it easier for the public to record accurate information in the moment.
- Support authorized groups with better organized reports.
- Encourage education and awareness around nesting, hatchlings, and safe behavior on the beach.
If you are part of a rescue team, aquarium, or conservation program and would like to share feedback, you can reach me at ethan.damore2026@gmail.com.