Not only is the Tortuga Music Festival, taking place in Ft. Lauderdale April 15-17, going to be an incredible musical event, it’s spreading awareness as well. The beach festival, which last year drew 75,000 fans, has raised more than $250,000 for the Rock The Ocean Foundation, benefitting marine and ocean research and conservation programs.
This year, Tortuga will continue to spread awareness with the Conservation Village, which will host a variety of exhibits addressing Rock The Ocean’s five Core Issues: Coral Reef Degradation, Shark Conservation, Turtle Conservation, Marine Pollution and Overfishing. Attendees can participate in hands-on activities like exploring a coral nursery, viewing a manned submersible, experiencing an interactive Touch Tank, and more, and each Village partner has been tasked with sharing one everyday act of conservation that fans can easily adopt and fold into their everyday lives. A Clean Vibes Trading Post will allow festival goers to trade their recyclables for prizes, encouraging sustainability and personal responsibility while keeping the beach clean.
“My inspiration for this event was the singular cause of saving our seas,” says Rock The Ocean founder Chris Stacey in a release. “My favorite part every year is getting to meet the ‘rock stars’ of the conservation movement who work tirelessly 365 days a year to ensure our ocean’s future. This entire event was based on the concept of ‘edu-tainment.’ Let’s put on a killer show… but also make sure our fans leave with some new insight and knowledge about how they can ‘Rock The Ocean!’”
“From day one our goal was not only to create unforgettable experiences and memories, but also to use our platform to elevate conservation issues. Thanks to our partners, we will continue to make a tremendous splash this year with some truly eye-opening and informative activations that address key issues,” says HUKA Entertainment Chief Experience Officer A.J. Niland.
This year’s Conservation Village partners are: Beneath the Waves, Billfish Foundation, Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation, Biscayne National Park, Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program, The Coral Restoration Foundation, Clean Vibes Trading Post, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative, Friends of Our Florida Reefs, Florida Fishing Academy, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Lionfish Program, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Division of Marine Fisheries Management Outreach and Education Subsection, Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, International Game Fish Association, Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center – Coral Nursery Initiative, Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center – Kerstetter Fisheries Laboratory, Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center – Guy Harvey Research Institute, Project Baseline, RECOVER, REEF, Rock The Ocean Foundation, Sea To Shore Alliance, Sea Turtle Oversight Protection (STOP), Sharks 4 Kids, Shark Team One, University of Miami – Shark Research & Conservation Program, University of Miami – Rescue A Reef, University of Miami – Rosenstiel School of Atmospheric Science and Wildlife Voice. There will also be cooking demonstrations and delicious samples of responsibly sourced ocean fish and gourmet recipes in the Green Gourmet tent from the following: Big Chef, Piccolo Ristorante, The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, and Sea Delight Ocean Fund.
Take a listen to our Tortuga playlist, get ready for some amazing performances by some of country’s best, and open your heart to the incredible conservation work championed by the festival.