Claudia Martinez Gray

She/Her

International Museum of Art & Science

Dialogue & Deliberation Fellowship

Claudia Martinez Gray is the Director of Education at the International Museum of Art & Science, where she began as a volunteer gallery guide back in 2017. She is a Certified Interpretive Guide and also serves on the Board of the Informal Science Education Association of Texas.

Community Partner

Sea Turtle Inc.’s mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and release injured sea turtles; educate the public; and assist with conservation efforts for all marine turtle species. With more than 30,000 miles of beach patrolled annually, as well as on-site education facilities, Sea Turtle Inc., serves a large community in South Texas and hosts more than a quarter of a million on-site guests from around the world each year.

Project Description

The project, Cause for Conservation: A Conversation of Sustainable Fishing Practices, focused on shaping solutions to improve the relationship between local fishers and the endangered sea turtles that share waterways.

Sustainable fishing practices, proper gear and line disposal, and greater knowledge about sea turtles among fishers are essential to the continued protection of the local sea turtle population. Sea Turtle Inc. has treated more than 600 sea turtles in their rehabilitation center over the past 10 years.

Approximately 35% of patients are admitted due to harm experienced in the water, such as line entanglement, hook injuries, trash ingestion, and boat strikes.

This event engaged approximately 40 participants who are involved in the local fishing community, as well as community members and representatives from local nonprofits focused on conservation and the health of local land and waters. This event increased community members’ awareness of sustainable fishing practices and provided an opportunity for them to brainstorm community solutions for issues like proper fishing equipment disposal and plans for what to do when encountering an injured sea turtle.