UK Sea Turtle Symposium 2026

Travel information

By Train

Brighton Station is approximately a 15–20 minute walk from Brighton Metropole. Frequent direct services operate from London Victoria, London Bridge, Gatwick Airport and many locations across the South East. Taxis are readily available outside the station.

By Car

The venue has an on-site car park accessed from St Margaret’s Place. Parking is chargeable at £29/day, at the time of writing. Brighton can be busy, particularly on weekends, so advance planning is advisable. Alternative parking options are available throughout the city.

Pioneering Sea Turtle Rescue in the United Kingdom

We want to ensure that those people who find, rescue and rehabilitate cold stunned turtles washing up on British beaches have the knowledge that they need to deal with these very sick animals.

We will achieve this by developing guidance for vets and rehabilitators, together with an events programme that will be delivered to coastal communities, including aquarium and wildlife vet communities.

Sea turtles are vital to healthy ocean ecosystems yet face escalating threats. Hard-shelled species such as loggerhead turtles are not typically found in UK waters, but are increasingly being pushed beyond their normal range by changing ocean currents thought to be linked to climate change.

When temperatures drop below 10°C, sea turtles are particularly vulnerable to ‘cold-stunning’ – becoming lethargic, they drift ashore and risk death without rapid intervention. As a result, strandings in UK waters and on beaches across the country are rising (40 in 2025 vs 12 in 2022).

When we are done

A turtle is washed up on a beach and found by a dog walker who phones the National Stranding Helpline or the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR). BDMLR or other nominated volunteers will ensure the turtle is covered in wet towel (not over its nostrils) and its rear end is elevated whilst the National Coordinator finds an aquarium that has space for the turtle. The Coordinator has a number of aquariums around the coast that have the expertise and experience to keep turtles for a limited amount of time. There will be several larger aquariums that are able to finish the rehabilitation and repatriate the turtles.

WVI and partners have developed best practice guidelines and delivered learning events to all the communities that could play a part in rescuing these stranded turtles.