The Texas coast is the most dangerous place in the world for nesting and migrating Kemp's ridley sea turtles. The Kemp's Ridley Protection campaign seeks to protect the only U.S. nesting population of the critically endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtle through public education and by ultimately creating a marine reserve that is off limits to commercial fishing. This grassroots campaign has been mobilizing the public in support of this vital nesting beach in the waters of Padre Island, Texas. By creating a marine reserve, we will end the needless drowning of sea turtles in the illegal nets of shrimp fishers.

In 2009, the sea turtle nesting season broke all records on the Texas coast with 197 documented nests. This was the sixth consecutive year for nesting increases setting a new record for the number of Kemp's ridley nests found on the Texas coast during a single year since record keeping efforts began on the Texas coast in the early 1980s. The previous record was 195, set in 2008. See links below for campaign updates and nesting news.