Georgia Sea Turtle Center

What Georgia Sea Turtle Center does

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center (GSTC), founded in 2007 by Dr. Terry Norton, operates as Georgia's only sea turtle education and rehabilitation facility, located at 214 Stable Road on Jekyll Island, Georgia. It is owned and operated by the Jekyll Island Authority, a self-supporting state entity designated by the State of Georgia for the management of Jekyll Island State Park. The center treats sick and injured sea turtles at a single physical facility equipped with a veterinary surgical suite, a research laboratory, and interactive public exhibits; since inception it reports having rehabilitated hundreds of turtles, with the majority returned to the ocean, including a 2026 release of "Carnegie," a green sea turtle treated for fibropapillomatosis tumors.

The center's underlying capabilities integrate veterinary rehabilitation, ecological research, and public education. Core services include medical treatment for conditions such as fibropapillomatosis and epibiota removal, coastal wildlife research (including diamondback terrapin monitoring, alligator movement studies, and marsh restoration planning), and year-round educational programming such as interactive exhibits, Behind the Scenes Tours, Diamondback Terrapin Hatchling Releases, Scute's School learning resources, and Summer Beach Programs. Supporting tools include web-based trackers for sea turtle nests and diamondback terrapin crossings, plus a proprietary turtle-safe lighting product line (amber or red LEDs emitting wavelengths of at least 560 nanometers) sold through the gift shop to support nesting-season compliance.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid of consumer transactions and donations: single-visit admissions ($10 ages 4–12, $12 ages 13+), recurring supporter memberships ($75 individual / $175 family annually), symbolic turtle adoptions, gift shop retail, paid special programs, and tax-deductible donations processed through the Jekyll Island Foundation, the official 501(c)(3) partner of the Jekyll Island Authority. The center does not receive state tax revenues and funds operations through these fees, retail, and donor streams, with donations and membership renewals providing the closest analogue to recurring revenue. The center coordinates with a broad institutional network including NOAA, the University of Georgia Odum School of Ecology, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, AmeriCorps, the Jacksonville Zoo, and numerous regional conservation organizations.

Name

Georgia Sea Turtle Center

Legal name

Georgia Sea Turtle Center

Website

https://georgiaseaturtlecenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center is a Jekyll Island, Georgia-based state-entity-operated facility that rehabilitates sick and injured sea turtles, conducts coastal wildlife research, and delivers public education through exhibits, tours, and digital tracking tools for visitors, school groups, and conservation supporters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Rehabilitation & Conservation Education

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213)

akta.pro primary industry

Zoo & Aquarium Parks (Ticketed Wildlife Attractions) (THAJAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL), Marine Wildlife & Coastal Nature Tours (Whale/Dolphin Watching, Sea Kayaking) (THAAAEAD), Sea Turtle Nesting & Hatchling Tours (regulated night walks) (THAAAIAI)

Keywords

• Wildlife rehabilitation services
• Sea turtle conservation
• Environmental education programs
• Wildlife veterinary care
• Marine conservation research

Headquarters

HQ city

Jekyll Island

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Admission Fees: Single admission fees for visitors aged 4-12 ($10) and ages 13+ ($12). All proceeds help offset operational costs including rehabilitation of patients.
2. Supporter Memberships: Individual memberships at $75 and Family memberships at $175. Includes unlimited general admission, 10% off gift shop purchases, 10% off special programs like Turtle Walks, and 15% on symbolic adoption renewals.
3. Symbolic Turtle Adoptions: Symbolic adoption of patients to stay informed about their health and recovery. Each adoption helps offset costs like food and medicine for rehabilitation patients.
4. Gift Shop Sales: Retail sales including turtle-safe lighting, gifts, and merchandise. A portion of all proceeds supports rehabilitation, research, and educational efforts.
5. Donations: Tax-deductible contributions through the Jekyll Island Foundation, the official 501(C)(3) partner of the Jekyll Island Authority.
6. Special Programs: Revenue from special programs including Behind the Scenes Tours, Summer Beach Programs, Turtle Walks, and educational experiences available at additional costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Georgia Sea Turtle Center is a sea turtle rehabilitation, research, and education facility on Jekyll Island, Georgia. Since 2007, it has treated hundreds of sick and injured sea turtles, returning most to the ocean, while offering public exhibits, interactive educational programs, special guided experiences (Behind the Scenes Tours, Turtle Walks, hatchling releases), a gift shop, and supporter membership and symbolic adoption programs to fund operations.

Product overview

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center is a single-facility rehabilitation, research, and education center that operates as Georgia's only sea turtle education and rehabilitation facility on Jekyll Island. Established in 2007 and operated by the Jekyll Island Authority, the Center offers public access to rehabilitation programs where visitors can observe sick and injured turtles being treated, research initiatives focused on coastal wildlife conservation, and educational programs including interactive exhibits, Behind the Scenes Tours, Scute's School learning resources, and seasonal beach programs. The Center also operates a gift shop and symbolic adoption program to support patient care costs. Supporting offerings include web-based tracking tools for sea turtle nests and diamondback terrapin crossings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Hundreds of sick and injured sea turtles successfully rehabilitated and returned to the ocean since 2007
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Georgia (UGA) Odum School of EcologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research on sea turtle and wildlife conservation. Joseph Colbert served as graduate student at UGA's Odum School of Ecology. The center partners with UGA for alligator population monitoring and movement studies.
• NOAA – National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner in marine conservation efforts, particularly in the collaborative research and planning for marsh restoration including Fortson Pond.
• Georgia Department of Natural ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner for wildlife management. Injured turtles found in Georgia should be reported to Georgia DNR at 1-800-2SAVEME. Collaborates on sea turtle and coastal wildlife conservation initiatives.
• Jekyll Island FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial 501(C)(3) partner of the Jekyll Island Authority. Handles tax-deductible contributions for the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. Supports fundraising initiatives and conservation projects.
• AmeriCorpsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational service volunteer program providing support for invasive species management and conservation efforts at the center. Joseph Colbert completed two national service contracts as an AmeriCorps member with the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.
• Jacksonville ZoominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for wildlife treatment. The Jacksonville Zoo helped provide treatment for Bullwinkle the bobcat in collaboration with the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.
• Coastal Georgia Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CoGA CISMA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance established in March 2012 to work across Federal, State, Local, and private lands for invasive species management. Yank Moore, Director of Conservation, represents JIA on the steering committee.
• Satilla RiverkeeperminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in marsh restoration collaborative efforts including the Fortson Pond restoration project.
• UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea GrantminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner providing marine research support and extension services for coastal Georgia conservation.
• Altamaha RiverkeeperminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRiver conservation organization partnering on broader coastal Georgia environmental protection efforts.
• College of Coastal GeorgiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partner for conservation education and research programs.
• Georgia Southern UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for conservation research and education initiatives.
• Georgia Coastal Research CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch coordination body for coastal Georgia environmental research.
• Georgia ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide conservation organization partnering on environmental protection efforts.
• One Hundred MilesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoastal Georgia conservation organization focused on protecting the Georgia coast.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium: Sarasota, FL-based marine research institution and public aquarium that runs sea turtle rehabilitation, conservation research, and education programs. Comparable in integrating active research/rehab with public-facing exhibits on the Gulf coast.
• South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Care Center: Charleston, SC-based aquarium with a dedicated sea turtle care center that rehabilitates sick and injured sea turtles and offers public viewing, education programs, and release events — closely mirroring GSTC's rehab-education-tourism model in the same regional ecosystem.
• Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center: Topsail Beach, NC non-profit hospital dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of sea turtles. Comparable as a state-level specialty sea turtle rehab facility with public-facing education and tours.
• Clearwater Marine Aquarium: Florida non-profit aquarium that combines marine animal rescue and rehabilitation (including sea turtles) with ticketed visitor exhibits and educational programming. Highly comparable as a working marine hospital that doubles as a public attraction.
• Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Juno Beach, FL-based non-profit sea turtle hospital focused on sea turtle rehabilitation, research, and education. Operates a Juno Beach hatchling release program and on-site visitor exhibits — directly comparable in mission, scale, and visitor experience to GSTC.

Broad incumbents

• Georgia Aquarium: Atlanta-based large-scale public aquarium and ticketed wildlife attraction in the same state. Overlaps in marine education and conservation messaging but does not specialize in single-species rehab the way GSTC does.
• National Aquarium: Baltimore-based major public aquarium with marine animal rescue/rehab programming and education exhibits. Comparable as a broad-incumbent ticketed marine wildlife attraction with conservation mission.

Regional players

• Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens: Regional zoological park in Northeast Florida that partners with GSTC for wildlife treatment (e.g., bobcat care). Comparable as a regional zoo with conservation programming and educational exhibits serving the same Southeast US visitor market.
• North Carolina Aquariums (Pine Knoll Shores, Fort Fisher, Roanoke Island, Jennette's Pier): State-run system of aquariums on the North Carolina coast offering sea turtle rehab programs, exhibits, and education. Comparable as a state-operated coastal aquarium network with sea turtle conservation programming, though geographically distinct from Georgia.

Emerging players

• Marine Environmental Education Center (Harbor Branch, FAU): Florida Atlantic University-affiliated marine education center on the southeast Florida coast focused on sea turtle conservation, public education, and citizen science. Comparable as a smaller, education-and-conservation-led coastal facility with sea turtle focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GeorgiaSeaTurtleCenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/GeorgiaSeaTurtleCenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/georgia-sea-turtle-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Georgia Sea Turtle Center