Florida Coastal Conservancy

Florida Coastal Conservancy Receives $5,000 Donation from Eastern Shipbuilding Group Charities to Support Sea Turtle Conservation

PORT ST. JOE, FL — The Florida Coastal Conservancy is pleased to announce it has received a $5,000 donation from Eastern Shipbuilding Group Charities to support the 2025 Forgotten Coast Sea Turtle Festival and the 2026 Pickleball for Sea Turtles Tournament. Both events play a vital role in raising awareness about sea turtle populations along the northern Gulf Coast while generating funds for the Florida Coastal Conservancy’s outreach and education efforts throughout Gulf County.
Established in 2011, the Florida Coastal Conservancy is a local 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that supports the St. Joseph Peninsula Turtle Patrol, which monitors sea turtle nesting activity along the southern six miles of St. Joseph Peninsula, and the Forgotten Coast Sea Turtle Center, which provides free educational programs for residents and visitors of Port St. Joe.
“We are proud to support the Florida Coastal Conservancy in its mission to protect and preserve the marine ecosystems that are so vital to our region,” said Joey D'Isernia, CEO of Eastern Shipbuilding Group. “At Eastern, we recognize the importance of maintaining a healthy coastal environment, not only for sea turtles but for the communities and industries that depend on these waters. Through partnerships like this, we continue our commitment to environmental stewardship and the long-term sustainability of our local waterways.”
The Florida Coastal Conservancy looks forward to continuing its partnership with Eastern Shipbuilding Group, aligning their shared commitment to protecting local waterways and coastal resources—home to both sea turtles and the Eastern Shipbuilding Port St. Joe Shipyard.

📷left to right: Jim McKnight, Director, Gulf County Economic Development Coalition; Jessica Swindall, Director, Florida Coastal Conservancy; England Reeves, Director of Operations, Eastern Shipbuilding Port St. Joe Facility