Share The Beach honored for contributing to marine sustainability

Share The Beach honored for contributing to marine sustainability

The Pleaure Island based Share The Beach program was honored with a Dauphin Island Sea Lab Marine Environmental Award during a November awards luncheon in Mobile. Scientist Dr. Carl Safina as the luncheon’s keynote speaker. Share The Beach was recognized for its “outstanding contributions to marine environmental sustainability in the Alabama Gulf Coast Region.’’
Each year, just as endangered sea turtles make their way to the white-sand beaches of Alabama’s shoreline to nest, hundreds of Share The Beach volunteers assist the temporary residents in making the perilous journey to the water.
Formed in 2005 by the Friends of the Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge, the volunteer group is tasked with patrolling the beach, educating the public and school groups, late-night nest observation and assisting with supply and equipment preparations.
“I accepted the award on behalf of all the volunteers with Share The Beach,’’ said Mike Reynolds, the founder and director of the Share The Beach. “I explained to the 400 plus luncheon attendees that this past season, 450 volunteers put in more than 28,000 hours, finding 178 nests that had a total of 18,632 eggs producing 11,520 hatchlings of which 10,712 made it to the water.’’
Pictured: Mike Reynolds, the founder and director of the Share The Beach program on Pleasure Island, accepts a Dauphin Island Sea Lab Marine Environmental Award from Helene Hassel, Director of the DISL Foundation during a November awards luncheon in Mobile.