Community Outreach

NSU Ocean is committed to making a real-world impact—locally and globally. We bring youth, families, and organizations closer to the sea through longstanding marine wildlife education programs, from turtle nest monitoring and hatchling releases to local shark tagging education. Our mission is to inspire communities to protect threatened and endangered species, understand how our oceans affect human well-being, and build safer coastlines for generations to come.

Saving Sea Turtles, Saving Oceans

Florida is home to 90 percent of the nation’s sea turtles’ nesting sites—including three endangered or threatened species—and we’re giving them a critical boost on their journey from the nest to the sea.

Through some of the most comprehensive sea turtle conservation programs in Florida, NSU Ocean is extending its expertise through community education, collaboration with local partners, and shoreline revitalization.

Two people dig in a sea turtle nest on beach sand.

A logo including the NSU Ocean and Broward County Parks logo.

Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program

In partnership with Broward County for more than 40 years, NSU Ocean's Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program monitors 24 miles of South Florida beaches, collecting vital nesting data and supporting hatchlings' journey to the sea. This work has driven a threefold increase in sea turtle nesting for loggerhead, green, and leatherback species since the program began.

Discover Conservation Programs

NSU Marine Environmental Education Center

The NSU Marine Environmental Education Center is a unique collaboration between Broward County Parks and Nova Southeastern University. The center educates and inspires the community with a range of school programs. At this interpretive center in Hollywood, Florida, NSU Ocean specialists rehabilitate resident sea turtles to captivate visitors and share the beauty of South Florida's coastal environment.

Explore the Center

24 Miles

of monitored Broward County shoreline

~3 Times

increase in Broward County sea turtle nesting during NSU’s 40+ year conservation program

10,000+

annual visitors to the Marine Environmental Education Center

Bringing Communities Onboard to Protect Sharks

NSU Ocean scientists know the crucial role sharks play in our ecosystems—and the threats they face, from habitat loss to the millions killed annually through overfishing.

With tagging and tracking programs, NSU scientists have revealed new insights into the vast migrations and behaviors of little-known shark species, lending new data to inform enhanced conservation approaches. Through up-close experiences of research programs like these, our shark experts are educating the next generation to protect these crucial marine animals.

Three students tag shark in water aboard NSU research boat.

Shark Tagging Awareness and Research Program

Since 2014, shark researchers with the NSU Guy Harvey Research Institute and Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Research Center have led a local shark tagging education program that's connected more than 8,000 participants—from K-12 students to corporate groups—with hands-on experiences of shark tagging, fostering understanding of how marine science research drives discoveries, changes policy, and restores our oceans.

Explore Shark Science Programs

Project SEAMIST Workforce Training

Project SEAMIST trains the ocean workforce on hazardous materials, providing a unique, health- and safety-focused training for marine workers in a range of settings, including ports, oil rigs and platforms, and law enforcement serving maritime venues.

Since 2011, Project SEAMIST has developed and delivered targeted safety training curricula to nearly 2,000 maritime workers in Florida, Louisiana, and Virginia.

Learn More About SEAMIST Programs