Learn About San Diego Bay's Green Sea Turtles at Saturday's Science Talk ● UPDATING

Tracy Tempest, a community scientist who monitors green sea turtles in San Diego Bay, will co-host a talk on Saturday at the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve in Imperial Beach. The event, titled 'Sea Turtle Science Talk: The Green Turtles of San Diego’s South Bay & How to Be a Citizen Scientist,' begins at 10 a.m.

in the visitor center training room. Tempest will be joined by Anna Cahill, a lab technician with NOAA’s Marine Turtle Ecology and Assessment Program.

Tempest's journey as a community scientist began in 2015 when she first started observing green sea turtles in the South Bay after a friend mentioned their presence. Initially skeptical, she spent months searching before finally spotting them and becoming captivated.

She now works alongside NOAA scientists, providing critical data on the turtles' behavior and population.

Green sea turtles are year-round residents of San Diego Bay, though summer offers the best viewing due to warmer waters. They can grow up to 4 feet long and weigh up to 400 pounds, making them the second-largest sea turtle species.

These herbivores feed primarily on seagrass and eelgrass, playing a vital role in the ecosystem by regulating seagrass beds and excreting nutrient-rich waste that supports coral reefs and other marine life.

Thanks to global conservation efforts, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has reclassified green sea turtles from 'endangered' to 'least concern.' Locally, their population in San Diego Bay has grown from an estimated 60 turtles in the 1960s to between 150 and 200 today. Key conservation measures include protecting nesting beaches in Mexico, developing turtle-friendly fishing nets, and reducing vessel strikes.

Tempest's work has earned her recognition, including the Emerald Keeper of the Month award in 2022 and the Environmental Hero Award for Water in 2025. Before becoming a community scientist, she had a varied career as a tennis pro, teacher, real estate agent, and Habitat for Humanity supervisor.

She also volunteered at the Helen Woodward Animal Center and Cabrillo National Monument.

During Saturday's talk, Tempest and Cahill will discuss the turtles' history, their role in the local environment, and how the public can participate in citizen science. The best places to view the turtles include Chula Vista Marina, La Jolla Cove, the Safe Harbor Sunroad Resort & Marina, and the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

Tempest emphasizes that the turtles serve as sentinels for ecosystem health, and their thriving presence indicates a healthy bay.