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Introduction & Refuge History

The Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge was established by Congress in 1989 to protect sea turtles now threatened with extinction throughout the world. Leading sea turtle researchers and concerned citizens have watched with increasing concern as turtle populations worldwide have plummeted due to over-exploitation and destruction of nesting habitat. The Refuge offers hope for saving one of the most important sea turtle nesting sites in the world.

Long stretches of quiet, undisturbed sandy beaches, with little or no artificial light, are essential to the reproductive success and survival of sea turtles. This fact is recognized in sea turtle recovery plans developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which call for purchasing and protecting the best remaining nesting beaches.

In North America, sea turtles primarily nest from North Carolina through Florida, with over 90% occurring in Florida. Within that range is the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, a 20.5-mile stretch of beach between Melbourne and Wabasso, along Florida's east central coast. The Refuge attracts more nesting for threatened loggerhead turtles than virtually anyplace else on Earth. These Brevard and Indian River County beaches also attract more nesting green turtles, an endangered species, than anyplace in the continental U.S. Even the endangered mammoth leatherback turtle occasionally climbs up on these beaches to deposit its eggs in the sand. Protection of these beaches is essential to the survival of loggerheads and green turtles in North America.

Click image to enlarge map of the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge.

To preserve this globally important nesting ground, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is in the process of acquiring the remaining undeveloped lands between Melbourne Beach and Wabasso. The State of Florida, Brevard and Indian River Counties, the private Mellon Foundation and the USFWS, are each contributing money in the effort to buy land from willing sellers within the proposed refuge boundary. By mid-1996, over $60 million had been spent to purchase 4.7 miles of beachfront out of 9.3 miles targeted for acquisition (61% of available targeted land).

How Was the Refuge Named?

Dr. Archie Carr

The idea to establish a national wildlife refuge to protect sea turtles began in the late 1980's as a direct result of the work of world-renowned ecologist Dr. Archie Carr, Jr. When Congress approved the refuge proposal, it was decided then to name the refuge in honor of Dr. Carr's contributions to the understanding and conservation of sea turtles.

Dr. Carr was a zoology professor at the University of Florida, whose ability to translate science into literature brought the first international attention to the plight of sea turtles. Dr. Carr helped found the Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC) to conduct research, education and advocacy on behalf of sea turtles; he wrote 11 books and over 120 scientific articles about sea turtles and their habitats before his death in 1987. Through its Sea Turtle Survival League program, CCC is today helping enhance, protect and promote the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge.

How Important Is the Refuge to Sea Turtles and Other Coastal Wildlife?

Thorough scientific studies of sea turtle nesting activity along the beaches of the Refuge have continued each nesting season for almost a decade. Studies by Dr. Llewellyn Ehrhart, University of Central Florida, confirm the global importance of the Refuge to loggerheads and green turtles.

Nesting graphs are based on nest surveys conducted by Dr. Llewellyn Ehrhart and his students at the University of Central Florida, Paul Tritaik of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and Ron Johns and Terry O'Toole of the Sebastian Inlet State Recreation Area.

During the 2009 nesting season, which runs from March to October, 10,374 loggerhead nests were counted in the refuge (generally representing between 20 - 25% of the loggerhead nests in Florida); a slight decrease from the 11,399 nests in 2008. While the current level of nesting over the past few years is showing a possible stabilization of nesting, there is still a declining trend in nesting since the record nesting season in 1998, with over 21,540 loggerhead nests. Nesting like this makes the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge the most productive nesting site for loggerheads in the Western Hemisphere. For green sea turtle nesting, after higher than expected nesting in 2008, researchers were uncertain what to expect in 2009, which resulted in over 1,300 nests in the refuge (generally representing between 30 - 35% of the green turtle nests in Florida). It appears that the bi-annual nesting cycle may have switched from even-year peaks to odd-year peaks. For leatherbacks, 2009 was anticipated to be a high nesting year, especially after 2008 being the best "low" year on record with 29 nests. Surprisingly, there were only 41 leatherback nests in the refuge (generally representing between 3 - 5 % of the leatherback nests in Florida). This did not represent the overall leatherback nesting in Florida, which had the best year on record for leatherback nesting.

As for other wildlife, the refuge provides important habitat for the Florida scrub jay, gopher tortoise, beach mouse and numerous threatened plant species. Learn about the sea turtle nesting trends for Florida.

A National Wildlife Refuge at Risk

The Archie Carr Refuge represents the Nation's most significant land acquisition effort to protect the world's populations of marine turtles. Unfortunately, rapid coastal development in Brevard and Indian River Counties threatens the future effectiveness of the Refuge. Supporters of the Refuge are literally in a race against time to acquire the best remaining parcels of undeveloped land. Complicating matters is the scarcity of funds available for land acquisition, especially funding from the federal level.

USFWS File Photo

Successful completion of the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge depends on an immediate increase in funding for land acquisition efforts and wide public support for the Refuge. Since the dedication of the Refuge by Congress, the financial contributions of local and state governments and private, non-profit organizations has surpassed the federal commitment. Scientists, conservationists and land managers consider completion of the acquisition phase of the Refuge as the most essential step. For this to happen, Congress must be willing to dedicate more funding to the Archie Carr Refuge.

YOU CAN HELP by contacting your Senator and Representative, and urging them to support more funding for land acquisition in the Archie Carr Refuge.

How is the Caribbean Conservation Corporation helping the Refuge?

The Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC) engages in education, research and advocacy designed to protect, promote and enhance the globally important sea turtle nesting beaches of the Carr Refuge. CCC's education programs target the media, the public and schools with information about the importance of the area and the threats it faces. Increased awareness is helping raise public support for land acquisition funding. Through advocacy, CCC works with decision-makers to ensure that sea turtles and their habitat receive the greatest level of protection. CCC is supporting and publicizing research in the Refuge, including nesting surveys and tracking of green turtle migratory patterns. Follow the migration of sea turtles from the Carr Refuge and other nesting beaches.

CCC also participates as a member of the Archie Carr Working Group, an ad-hoc group of federal, state, local and private organizations dedicated to making the Carr Refuge a success. Over 25 members of the Working Group meet regularly to share information, develop management priorities for the Refuge and facilitate effective communication. The group places a high priority on increasing community involvement, and it is a model for cooperation and communication among government agencies, conservation groups and the local community. One of the group's priorities for 1996 is to design and build educational kiosks at various locations in the Refuge.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP...

Turn your personal conviction about protecting sea turtles and the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge into direct action. Write, call and e-mail your Senator and Representative and urge them to support more funding for the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge.

Action Alerts and Press Releases related to Florida and the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge