Honoring Dr. Wallace J. Nichols
Dr. Wallace J. Nichols passed away in June 2024. J (as he liked to be called) was central to the creation of SEE Turtles along with many other organizations, wrote several important books, inspired millions of people, and was loved deeply by family and many many friends.
SEE Turtles was J’s idea back in 2007. He wanted to find a way to help fisher communities in Baja California Sur access sea turtle-based tourism as an alternative to fishing methods that caught sea turtles. Along with president Brad Nahill, they brought this idea to life and 16 years later, SEE Turtles is an award-winning organization that is supporting dozens of conservation projects and coastal communities around the world. J came up with the name SEE Turtles, his connections provided the seed funding to launch the project (now an independent organization), and he came up with the local with graphic designer Max Davis.
J came up with the idea for the Billion Baby Turtles program, which has now saved more than 10 million hatchlings on 50+ beaches. He also came up with the name for our Too Rare To Wear program and the program’s largest donor came to us after one of his incredible presentations. He served on the board for several years and after as an informal advisor, mentor, cheerleader, and creative muse. Our focus on supporting coastal communities was inspired by his love and empathy for everyone he met, regardless of whether they ate sea turtles or caught them in nets. He was an early advocate for working cooperatively with coastal residents, for addressing plastic pollution, and for the healing effects of being in, on, or around water. The organization and all it has accomplished is due to his creativity, connections, advocacy, advice, and love. We will miss him deeply and in his honor, double down on our efforts to protect sea turtles around the world.
Along with SEE Turtles, J founded or co-founded many organizations including Grupo Tortuguero de las Californias, WildCoast, Slow Coast, Ocean Revolution, and many others. A small portion of his extensive legacy includes being instrumental in the recovery of the black sea turtle in Mexico (a subspecies of green turtle), in tracking the first animal to cross the entire Pacific ocean (a loggerhead named Adelita followed by millions), as president of the International Sea Turtle Society, winning many awards for his work, and inspiring millions of people with his words and actions on topics as diverse as wildlife conservation, neuroconservation, plastic pollution, climate change, the fishing industry, and mental health.
We will be adding to this page over the next few weeks with some of his publications, media articles, videos, and more. And we will be working with his family and close friends to find ways to continue his legacy and honor his memory.
WallaceJNichols.org: links to his hundreds of collaborations, research papers, publications, organizations, writings, & much more.
@WallaceJNichols Instagram Page
How I Met J: Blog Post by SEE Turtles President Brad Nahill
Blue Mind: J’s bestselling book and award-winning movement about how water is medicine
The Touchy-Feely (But Totally Scientific) Methods of Wallace J. Nichols (Outside Magazine)
Wallace J Nichols Refuses To Break Our Hearts (Outside Magazine)
Wallace J Nichols on Turtles…and Tacos (National Geographic)
Some Of Our Favorite Videos