Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge | |
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IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
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| Location | Brevard County and Indian River County, Florida, USA |
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| Nearest city | Melbourne Beach, Florida and Wabasso Beach, Florida |
| Coordinates | 27°55′N 80°29′W / 27.917°N 80.483°WCoordinates: 27°55′N 80°29′W / 27.917°N 80.483°W |
| Area | 900 acres (3.6 km²) |
| Established | 1991 |
| Governing body | United States Fish and Wildlife Service |
The Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge is part of the United States National Wildlife Refuge System, located along a twenty mile (30 km) section of coastline from Melbourne Beach to Wabasso Beach. The 900 acre (3.6 km²) refuge was established in 1991, to protect the Loggerhead and Green sea turtles. It is administered as part of the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, through a partnership with the Caribbean Conservation Corporation (a nonprofit turtle conservation group founded by Dr. Archie Carr himself) and Archie Carr Working Group.
The refuge provides nesting habitats for approximately one-fourth of all sea turtles nesting in the United States. About 15,000- 20,000 sea turtles nests are laid annually, mostly loggerheads, green sea turtles, and some leatherbacks. The refuge also provides habitat for several other threatened and endangered species.
