Conservation

Rescue

Permitted by Florida Fish and Wildlife (FWC), CCinc operates the largest sea turtle rescue response team in Indian River County, Florida, documenting over 250 sick, injured, exhausted, and dead sea turtles every year. No matter if you are visiting the area or you are local resident, we rely on your call to locate and respond to stranded sea turtles.

Respond

You call, we respond. Our rescue team is dedicated to reporting all sick, injured, and dead sea turtles found from Sebastian Inlet to Fort Pierce Inlet. Reports are provided to the County and FWC for long-term studies, improved management, and law enforcement. Some turtles may be salvaged for research to learn more about the threats sea turtles face to survive.

Transport

It takes teamwork to rescue, rehabilitate, and release sea turtles. We are proud to be part of the Florida Sea Turtle Stranding Network (STSSN). Our rescue coordinator works directly with FWC and a number of permit holders to transport sick and injured (stranded) sea turtles to rehabilitation facilities across Florida.

Dropboxes

The smallest of sea turtles need help too, sometimes. Our rescue team monitors multiple permitted hatchling dropbox coolers located throughout Indian River County, FL. These coolers serve as collection locations for exhausted hatchlings and washbacks found by beachgoers.

Report

If you see a sick, injured, exhausted, or dead sea turtle, please call
1-888-404-3922 (FWCC).

Rescue Numbers in 2026: 154

Notable Rescues

Falafel

Rescue Date: June 12th, 2026
Release Date: Still undergoing treatment

Falafel is a loggerhead sea turtle that was found in the Indian River Lagoon in mid-June. They were caught in a cast net, and when the responding FWC officer was able to get them out of the net, it was found that Falafel also had fishing line tightly wrapped around their front flipper. Falafel was transported to the East Coast Zoological Foundation's Sea Turtle Healing Center at Brevard Zoo. It was found that the damage to their flipper was so extensive from lack of blood circulation that it had to be amputated. Falafel is currently doing well and is in the process of treatment and rehab. We wish them the best for a full recovery!

Liberty

Rescue Date: July 4th, 2026
Release Date: --

Liberty is one of the more devastating rescues we've responded to. Liberty was called in to us on the 4th of July. She was a loggerhead sea turtle and was found tightly entangled in fishing line and netting - and was tied to another, deceased sea turtle. We were able to quickly transport her to the East Coast Zoological Foundation's Sea Turtle Healing Center at Brevard Zoo, where she was treated for her injuries. Liberty was found to also be gravid, or carrying eggs, meaning she was a nesting female. Unfortunately, Liberty also had damage to her head from something hitting her and this created complications with her eating. She did succumb to her injuries. Stories like Liberty's are preventable - properly discard your fishing gear and tackle.

Bob Moss

Rescue Date: January 31st, 2026
Release Date: --

Bob Moss was found in the Indian River Lagoon in Vero Beach by a concerned community member, who took the correct action and called FWC for further direction. Once removed from the water, we could tell this little green sea turtle had something wrong with it. It was covered in red algae, a sign that it had been floating near the surface for a while and moving very slowly. Once transported to Brevard Zoo's Sea Turtle Healing Center, it was discovered that this turtle, affectionately named "Bob Moss," had a fatal boat strike wound under all the growth. Bob Moss' fate is not one uncommon to us - over 50% of the juvenile, subadult, and adult sea turtles CCinc has rescued over the past 5 years had boat strike injuries. We urge you to boat responsibly and keep an eye out for the wildlife beneath the surface.

Funding Support Provided By

Research

Collaborative research is the best way to bring the brightest and best together to advance knowledge that informs conservation. By partnering with research and academic groups, together we aim to answer a variety of questions about a sea turtle’s life underwater for improved management and recovery across the state of Florida.

As part of our collaborations, we provide our research partners with critical research equipment, supplies, and possible funding support to explore the underwater life of loggerhead, green, and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, while we serve as the expert science communications partner of a project. Using bits of the camera footage collected through each collaboration, we provide a unique and immersive way to teach people about the threats sea turtles face every day through our Featured Turtle Profiles. These profiles can spark new conversations related to the ways we can all make a difference in the sea turtle survival story.

Check out our “Featured Turtles” for interesting video clips and notable data from our cameras.