Guy Harvey Conservation Village Takes Center Stage at Tortuga Music Festival, April 12-13

A larger and more interactive collection of ocean conservation and research exhibits, coordinated by renown marine wildlife artist and scientist Guy Harvey, will put an even stronger message behind the music at the Second Annual Rock the Ocean Tortuga Music Festival scheduled for April 12-13 on Fort Lauderdale Beach.
The one-of-a-kind Guy Harvey Conservation Village will host 25 exhibitors delivering wide-ranging marine conservation messages through interactive displays and demonstrations. Highlights will include some of South Florida’s top chefs preparing sustainable seafood tastings, sea turtle nest replicas and a turtle ambulance, sea grass ecosystem displays, shark research including satellite tagging and virtual tracking systems, touch-tanks, coral reef and ocean

ecosystem restoration programs and lionfish containment efforts, diving and animal rescue demonstrations for those interested in becoming a marine scientist and a fan challenge to land big game in a fishing simulator game.
“The Tortuga Music Festival is a terrific event to enjoy some great music,” said Guy Harvey. “However it also provides a unique opportunity for people to learn about the solutions to the challenges facing our oceans and how we can work together to conserve the ocean’s critical marine wildlife. Last year, many concertgoers visited the Conservation Village to understand why our seas are so important. We hope to see many more music fans at this year’s Guy Harvey Conservation Village.

The Guy Harvey Conservation Village will be comprised of five tents, including four themed tents representing Offshore, Nearshore, Lionfish, and Technology. The main tent will include a presentation stage, a fan painting station, Rock the Ocean Foundation, International Game Fish Association and the Mahogany Youth Corp. Guy Harvey will also be on hand to meet and greet visitors.
The objective is to provide concertgoers with information and ways to support the key research initiatives in a fun and learning environment in keeping with the live concert that will feature headliners Luke Bryan and Eric Church along with Hank Williams, Jr., Train, Dierks Bentley, Brantley Gilbert, Sheryl Crow, Billy Currington, Slightly Stoopid, Ziggy Marley, 38 Special, Brett Eldredge, Parmalee, Cole Swindell, Brett Dennen, Delta Rae, Eric Paslay, Moon Taxi, The Revivalists, White Denim, Frankie Ballard, Brothers Osborne, Chase Rice, Blackjack Billy, Sons of Fathers and Quaker City Nighthawks.
Organizations participating in the Guy Harvey Conservation Village themed tents include Nova Southeastern University and the Guy Harvey Research Institute, Florida Fishing Academy, Bimini Biological Field Station, STOP-Sea Turtle Oversight Protection, Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Bonefish Tarpon Trust, Ocean¹s Daughter Conservation Alliance, Sea Turtle Conservancy, National Coral Reef Institute, University of Miami RJ Dunlop, REEF, Green Gourmets and Sea Delight, Tampa Bay Watch, Seagrass Exhibit by Aquatic Ecosystems and the Ocean Foundation, Sharklet Technologies, and UM CARTHE.
Tickets are now on sale at tortugamusicfestival.com. Those who can’t attend the 2014 Tortuga Music Festival can still make a contribution. They can donate $10 to the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation and the Guy Harvey Conservation partners by texting OCEAN to 80100.
About The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation:
The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation funds inspired scientific research and innovative educational programs to encourage conservation and best management practices for sustainable marine environments. The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation will help ensure that future generations can enjoy and benefit from a naturally balanced marine ecosystem where fish and other wildlife flourish. guyharvey.com
About HUKA Entertainment:
New Orleans, LA-based HUKA Entertainment is a privately held full-service production, talent-buying and promotion company that specializes in festivals, concerts and events of all sizes. Known for groundbreaking innovation at festivals throughout North America, HUKA Entertainment produced the Concerts for the Coast series featuring Jimmy Buffett, Bon Jovi and Brad Paisley; is the co-founder, producer, talent-buyer and promoter of the award-winning Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival (Fort Lauderdale, FL); is the co-founder, producer, talent-buyer and promoter of Pemberton Music Festival (Pemberton, BC); is the co-producer and co-promoter of BUKU Music + Art Project (New Orleans, LA) and is the co-founder of the award-winning Hangout Music Festival (Gulf Shores, AL), for which it was producer, talent-buyer and co-promoter from 2010 through 2013. HUKA Entertainment also books talent for and/or promotes a variety of concerts and events throughout the Southeastern United States. hukaentertainment.com
About Rock The Ocean Foundation:
The Rock the Ocean Foundation is dedicated to supporting scientific research, education and increasing public awareness about the issues impacting the world’s oceans. RTO teams up with high profile musical artists and entertainers, who will perform and participate in events that educated the public on marine conservation. RTO founder Chris Stacey is an avid ocean lover, diver and 20 year music veteran. Tortuga Music Festival will bring to life his vision, uniting the best and brightest in music, working to raise awareness about the issues currently impacting our oceans and their delicate ecosystems. rocktheocean.com