How Much Does It Cost To Track A Sea Turtle?

Sea turtle tracking bracelets typically cost around $15-17. For that price, you get a bracelet, a tracking card with your turtle’s name and photo, and a QR code to follow their journey on an interactive map.

I bought one a few years ago from Fahlo — the only company I trust for this. My turtle is named PopTart, and I still check on her location regularly. It’s a small purchase that feels surprisingly personal.

In this post, I’ll break down exactly what you get for the cost, how the tracking works, and which companies to avoid.

What Does a Sea Turtle Tracking Bracelet Cost?

The only legitimate sea turtle tracking bracelet I recommend is from Fahlo. Here’s the pricing:

Product	Price	What You Get
Fahlo Journey Bracelet	~$15-17	Beaded bracelet, tracking card, QR code to follow your turtle
Fahlo Sea Turtle Plush	~$30-35	Stuffed turtle toy with tracking feature

Fahlo donates 10% of every sale to Sea Turtle Conservancy.

Use code THETURTLEHUB20 for 20% off.

You’ll see other companies selling similar bracelets — Ocean Project.co, Turtle’s Journey, Wildlife Team, etc. — but these are scams. They take your money and give nothing to conservation. I cover how to spot fake sea turtle bracelet sites here.

Got questions about Rescue + Turtle Owners? This post has the basics, turtle-style. Fahlo Sea Turtle Plush Review: Is It Worth It?

Sea Turtle Bracelet Trackers and How They Work?

After purchasing a sea turtle bracelet, you obtain the name and image of a sea turtle. You will also be given access to a site to track your sea turtle. These sea turtles are tracked via satellites and transmitters placed on them during mating season.

Unfortunately, a number of scams have set up pseudo-organizations to dupe people into buying their sea turtle bracelets. These are equipped with fake information of non-existent sea turtles. But luckily there are a few like Fahlo formerly Wildlife Collections that sell proper tracking bracelets that can make a difference.

By purchasing one of the bracelets, you will be provided with the name, size, and picture of a sea turtle. You will be able to track the sea turtle through an interactive map. The information relayed there has been directly collected from the Sea Turtle Conservancy.

Here’s a list of tracked sea turtles that are still active!

There are other ways to track sea turtles too — I cover all the free and paid options here.

For a deeper look at the Fahlo bracelet, check out my full review.

Looking for real answers on Rescue + Turtle Owners? This guide's got you covered. Track Your Sea Turtle’s Epic Ocean Journey – All from Your Phone!

How The Sea Turtle Tracking Takes Place?

During the nesting season, sea turtles flock to coastal coastlines to lay their eggs. The breeding season is normally from March through October. This is an excellent chance to install a Platform Terminal Transmitter. This is referred to as “Satellite Tracking” or “Satellite Telemetry.”

The equipment is often fastened to a sea turtle’s shell with dentistry cement. It’s then encased in epoxy resin to prevent it from coming loose. These satellite trackers do not damage turtles and are meant to fall off over time.

The Platform Terminal Transmitter, or PTT for short, continues to gather all required data. When the turtle resurfaces for air, it automatically sends updates via the Argos tracking network.

In this sense, Argos satellite tags have proven to be a very valuable data relay platform. The tag can now be remotely sent together with the other sorts of data collected. Dive profiles and water temps are also included on these tags.

Want to know more details? Check the article from Sea Turtle Conservancy on how Sea Turtle Tracking works!

Typically researchers follow 5 methods to track sea turtles. Here’s a short explanation of each of them:

Satellite Telemetry:

This is the most common method used to track long-distance migrations of sea turtles. A satellite transmitter is attached to the turtle’s carapace (shell). As the turtle surfaces to breathe, the transmitter sends signals to satellites, which then relay the turtle’s location to researchers. This method provides real-time data and can track turtles for months to years, depending on the battery life of the transmitter and how securely it remains attached.

Acoustic Telemetry:

This method involves attaching an acoustic transmitter to the turtle. The transmitter emits unique pings that are detected by underwater receivers (or hydrophones) when the turtle swims near them. This method is useful for tracking turtles in specific areas, such as feeding grounds or nesting beaches.

Got questions about Rescue + Turtle Owners? This post has the basics, turtle-style. Can You Really Track a Sea Turtle with Fahlo?

Flipper Tags:

These are small, durable tags attached to the turtle’s flippers. While they don’t provide real-time tracking data, they are useful for identifying individual turtles when they are encountered again. For example, if a turtle is tagged on a nesting beach and then later found on a feeding ground, researchers can use the tag to identify the turtle and learn about its migration.

PIT (Passive Integrated Transponder) Tags:

These are small microchips that are injected into the turtle’s body. They can be read with a scanner when the turtle is encountered again. Like flipper tags, they don’t provide real-time data but are useful for identifying individual turtles.

Photo Identification:

Some researchers use natural markings and scars on turtles to identify and track them. For example, the unique scale patterns on a turtle’s face can be used to identify individuals. This method doesn’t require any tagging but relies on repeated sightings and photographs of the same individual.

Sea turtle tracking has revealed that some sea turtles can travel thousands of miles during their migrations. For example, loggerhead sea turtles have been tracked traveling over 7,500 miles from their nesting beaches in Japan to their feeding grounds in Mexico.

Want to get a printable version of this infographic? Click here! [If you want to use this infographic on your website, please link back to this post as the source!]

Want to understand FAQ + Turtle Owners better? Here’s a breakdown that makes sense. 7 Everyday Beach Activities That Are Secretly Harming Sea Turtles

Why You Might Want To Track A Sea Turtle?

Thousands of satellite emitters are in use now all over the globe. Including everything oceanic to natural dangers to water resources and polar currents are monitored using them. Fishing vessels, shipping lines, offshore oil, and wildlife are all tracked by these systems.

Many of the fundamental concerns about the biology and conservation of sea turtles have been addressed and reviewed, and satellite monitoring is a perfect instrument for answering them.

Females can be found easily on the shore throughout a nesting period.

Therefore, a majority of sea turtle tracking and ecological studies have concentrated on females. Male sea turtles, on the other hand, have been underdiagnosed, and little is known about their evolutionary psychology.

Male sea turtle population size, regional ecology, and dangers could all benefit from a better knowledge of male mobility patterns and spatial use.

Should You Adopt A Sea Turtle And Track It?

For $15-17, you get more than a bracelet. You get a connection to a real animal and a way to support conservation that actually feels personal.

Most donations disappear into a void — you give money and never see the impact. With Fahlo, you get assigned a specific turtle. You learn their name, see their photo, read their story, and track their journey across the ocean.

I’ve been following PopTart for years. It’s a small purchase, but it’s one I still think about regularly.

This also makes a great gift. For under $20, you can give someone their own sea turtle to track — way more meaningful than generic jewelry.

map of tracked sea turtles

Can you track sea turtles?

Sea turtles can be tracked using satellite telemetry technology, which allows researchers to monitor their movements in the open ocean.

Several organizations, such as the Sea Turtle Conservancy and Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, have been using this technology to track sea turtles for research and conservation purposes.

However, it is not possible for individuals to track sea turtles themselves without the necessary equipment and expertise.

Curious about FAQ + Turtle Owners? Let’s keep it simple and clear. Sea Turtles Are Talking—We Just Never Paid Attention

What is the tracking device for sea turtles?

The tracking device used for sea turtles is called a Platform Terminal Transmitter (PTT). It is attached to the back of a sea turtle and allows researchers to track its movements in the open ocean using satellite telemetry technology.

Dental putty is used as a base to attach the transmitter to the turtle’s shell, and it is encased using epoxy adhesive. In addition to PTTs, researchers also use other tracking devices such as popoff satellite tags and ARGOS tags to study the movements and behavior of sea turtles.

Are sea turtle tracking bracelets real?

Yes, sea turtle tracking bracelets are real. Fahlo is a legitimate company that partners with Sea Turtle Conservancy and donates 10% of every bracelet sale to conservation.

Each bracelet comes with a real turtle to track via their app or website. I’ve used mine for years and can confirm the tracking works.

Is there an app for tracking turtles?

Yes, there are apps and websites that allow the public to follow the movements of sea turtles that have been tagged and are being tracked by researchers. These platforms provide a way for the public to engage with and learn about sea turtle conservation efforts.

Here are a few:

OCEARCH Shark Tracker: While OCEARCH is best known for tracking sharks, they also track other marine animals, including sea turtles. Their app and website allow users to see the movements of individual tagged animals in near real-time.

Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tracker: The Sea Turtle Conservancy has a “Track a Turtle” program on their website where you can follow the migrations of individual sea turtles that they’ve tagged.

Turtle Tracker App: This app, associated with the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center, allows users to track the movements of tagged sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico.

Local Conservation Programs: In areas where sea turtles are prevalent, local conservation organizations might have their own tracking programs and platforms. It’s always a good idea to check with local sea turtle conservation groups if you’re interested in tracking turtles in a specific region.

Wondering what FAQ + Turtle Owners is all about? Here’s what every turtle fan should know. Sea Turtles Are Mistaking Plastic for Food—And It’s Getting Worse in 2025

Final Words

A sea turtle tracking bracelet costs around $15-17 — and for that price, you get a bracelet, a real turtle to follow, and the satisfaction of supporting conservation.

I bought mine years ago and I still check on PopTart. It’s one of those small purchases that keeps giving.

Just make sure you buy from Fahlo — they’re the only legitimate option. Use code THETURTLEHUB20 for 20% off.