For Immediate Release.

Galveston, Texas (September 25, 2014) History will be made on Monday evening, September 29, when the Galveston Chamber of Commerce staff cut a ribbon at the only office on the Upper Texas Coast dedicated to the conservation of sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico.

Members of the Chamber and the public are invited to the ribbon cutting at the Galveston Historical Foundation Building, 2228 Broadway, on the south side.  The only existing authentic costume depicting a Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle will assist in cutting the ribbon.  ROB the Ridley’s costume was made possible by donations from the kindergarten class of the River Oaks Baptist School in Houston.

Joanie Steinhaus, Galveston Campaign Director of the Turtle Island Restoration Network, will be on hand to answer questions.

“Our new office contains sea turtle artifacts, artwork and educational information, she said. “Turtle Island’s goals include protection of sea turtles in coastal waters, on the beaches and public awareness of all threats to sea turtles.  Another important goal is to force the state of Louisiana to implement the Endangered Species Act regulations in their state waters as we do in Texas and all other coastal states by using Turtle Excluder Devices (TED) in shrimp trawls. The TEDs allow sea turtles to escape drowning in the trawls.”

Refreshments will be served and ROB the Ridley will pose for photographs with visitors.