By Stacey Gallagher, Sea Turtle Conservancy
To be a Floridian who loves the natural world is to live in a “world of wounds,” as Aldo Leopold said. Our sandy beaches, coral reefs, seagrass beds, freshwater springs and forests are enjoyed by tourists, residents and wildlife alike.
At the same time, Floridians are constantly witnessing harm to these priceless landscapes and creatures. We’ve seen turtles pulled from the Gulf covered in oil in 2010, manatee die-offs in the Indian River Lagoon and rare Florida panthers reduced to roadkill.
We also know that as one voice, Floridians have immense power to stop bad decision making, like building golf courses in our beloved state parks. It’s time for Floridians to unite again against attacks on the Endangered Species Act (ESA), an effective law that has prevented extinction for 99% of listed species, including our iconic sea turtles.
Florida’s wildlife serves a greater purpose than simply being creatures we admire. Wildlife plays a critical role in balancing our natural ecosystems and contributing to our economy, supporting industries like fishing, agriculture and tourism. In fact, outdoor recreation alone grosses $58 billion annually in Florida. When wildlife populations are negatively affected, so are our communities and livelihoods.
The ESA Amendments Act of 2025 authored by Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) would gut protections for species already on the edge of extinction. Despite its misleading stated purpose to “optimize conservation,” the bill prioritizes profit over wildlife protections, allows greater destruction of natural habitats and replaces science-based decision-making with politics.
If this legislation moves forward, it could mean a death sentence for countless species in Florida and beyond. And without a doubt, it would weaken protections for many beloved and iconic species.
Florida is home to more than 135 threatened and endangered species living on our public lands and in our waters — including dozens of species found nowhere else in the world like the Florida panther, Florida scrub jay, key deer, Florida bonneted bat, two dozen types of freshwater mussels and more. Largely thanks to the ESA, green sea turtles have reversed their decline toward extinction and recently set record-high nest counts in recent years. In addition, Florida’s loggerhead sea turtle aggregation is now the largest in the world.
ESA protections also helped bring American manatee numbers in the state from fewer than 1,000 to around 10,000, and Florida panther numbers from fewer than 30 to around 200. While full recovery of threatened and endangered species takes time, results in Florida are a testament to the necessity of the ESA.
Preserving wildlife is a part of our American heritage, and the public agrees. Polling indicates that 95% of voters support the ESA, and half of Americans believe it should be strengthened, not weakened.
With these broadly shared values, now is the time to ensure species are protected from extinction through clear, science-informed policies, not put on the chopping block for private industry gain. It’s the duty of elected officials to listen to the American people. And we the people have the opportunity to hold them accountable.
Sea Turtle Conservancy has urged Florida’s congressional House members to vote “no” on the ESA Amendments Act of 2025, and we strongly encourage fellow Floridians to demand the same from their representatives. Allowing this bill to move forward would result in numerous irreversible consequences.
Speaking up takes just a few minutes, whether by phone or online. You can easily reach your representative through the contact form found on their official government website. Your voice means more than you may think.
Let’s do what’s right, before it’s too late.
Stacey Gallagher, M.A.M.C., is a development and policy coordinator at Sea Turtle Conservancy and resides in Florida’s 3rd congressional district. Banner photo: A green sea turtle swimming (iStock image).
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