The Pleasure Island Sea Turtle Project is a 501(c)3 organization comprised of volunteers dedicated to the conservation of all sea turtle species, through all stages of life (from nest incubation to hatchling to adult), through education and hands on conservation. During nesting season (May 1st through August 31st) we patrol from the southern end of Kure Beach to the northern end of Carolina Beach (including Freeman Park).
Our Mission – To ensure the preservation and protection of threatened and endangered sea turtles, working within federal and state guidelines.
Want to be a PISTP volunteer? Applications are open each February. Apply here!
Our Story…
In 1986 Susi Clontz was working at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. She befriended many people and learned all she could about sea turtle conservation. In 1987 Susi began her first season as the permitted sea turtle monitoring coordinator of Kure Beach. At first she walked the three miles of beach every morning alone searching for signs of nesting turtles – something that she had only seen in pictures. It didn’t take long before she realized that she couldn’t do this by herself so she drafted her husband Rusty who was willing to help but just as inexperienced as Susi. Neither of them had ever seen a real crawl. They were told it looked like a single tractor tire track coming out of the water and going back in. They did finally find one that season and the excitement was overwhelming. They were hooked for life. For many years it was just Rusty and Susi but along the way they gathered others that were just as interested in helping save the sea turtles as they were. In 2001 the volunteer program was officially put in place to help Susi and Rusty with nest monitoring and in 2003 “The Pleasure Island Sea Turtle Project” was born and became incorporated as a non-profit organization. Susi and Rusty were surprised at the overwhelming support they received from the community. They had no idea there were so many people who loved sea turtles as much as they do.
If you see a nesting turtle, hatchlings, or know of a turtle emergency or stranding please use the PISTP Hotline 888.290.1065 (please call 911 for sea turtle harassment and/or nest van
For other general inquiries please email us at pistp@seaturtleproject.org