By Commissioner Hal Valeche

I hope that among the amenities in our beautiful community, you have taken advantage of touring one of Northern Palm Beach County's most unique and treasured cultural destinations – the Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC). 

Located within Palm Beach County's Loggerhead Park - which is on the east side of US1 just north of Donald Ross Road - this non-profit organization fondly referred to as the "turtle museum" is dedicated to the conservation of ocean ecosystems through public education, research and rehabilitation with a focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles.  Founded more than 30 years ago by Eleanor Fletcher, LMC welcomes all free of charge and has grown to more than 350,000 visitors per year.

The LMC, which also now manages the Juno Beach Pier, has one of the longest running research programs in the state and conducts its efforts over a 9.5-mile stretch of beach from the northern Palm Beach County line south to John D. MacArthur Beach State Park.  In this area alone, sea turtles create nearly 17,000 nesting areas that are monitored by the Center.  It is no surprise that this site is noted as the primary turtle nesting location in North America. 

The three predominant species of turtles that nest on our beaches are the Loggerhead - the most common sea turtle in Florida, the Green turtle - named for the color of its body fat, and the Leatherback – the largest of all sea turtles and a particular favorite of hoteliers and tourism officials because they dine on jellyfish, helping to reduce the numbers of those sea creatures from our coast.

The LMC offers 31 distinct educational programs, annually serving more than 45,000 students of all ages.  The new wet lab integrates research techniques and equipment and encourages collaboration of researchers, public users, teachers and students.  Scientists from LMC present research findings at regional and international conferences.

The sea turtle hospital on the LMC campus is one of the most advanced sea turtle diagnostic facilities in the world.  It serves as a global training hub, visited by veterinarians and interns.  Just last year, the hospital saved 100 sick or injured turtles and rescued thousands of hatchlings.

Many of the sea turtles treated have complex internal medical challenges, such as plastic and fishing hook ingestion.  Thanks to the utilization of advanced medical equipment, LMC has transformed patient outcomes. 

Loggerhead Marinelife Center's conservation efforts are contributing to other ecosystems through international research partnerships and the deployment of innovative solutions designed to protect sea turtles and their habitat.  For example, Project Shield is a multi-faceted program that has initiated methods to deal with waste that can harm turtles, birds, and pollute beaches, including fishing line, plastics, cigarette butts, bottles and cans, and other debris.

The LMC shares the vision of marine wildlife artist and conservationist, Guy Harvey, Ph.D. who said, "Why is the Center's work so important?  Sea turtles tell us the health of the ocean.  The ocean determines the health of the planet."

Because of the success of its programs in education, research, and conservation and to further its mission as a global leader in sea turtle health and ocean conservation, LMC is planning a major expansion of its facilities, adding hospital and research laboratory and retail space, exhibits, and classrooms.  This means that more students will be able to gain knowledge about our oceans, more turtles from other parts of Florida can be treated at the hospital, and more training will be offered to visiting veterinarians from around the world.  Expanding the research labs with additional state-of-the-art equipment will open the door to further grant opportunities and enhance LMC's contributions to science.

Palm Beach County is proud to be a partner with the Loggerhead Marinelife Center.  Make sure to visit soon – you will be amazed.

As always, if there is any way that I or my staff can assist you, please don't hesitate to contact me at 561-355-2201 or by email at hvaleche@pbcgov.org.