Sunset Beach council proclaims appreciation for longtime sea‑turtle volunteer Carmel Zetz

Mayor opened the May 2 meeting and presented a formal proclamation honoring Carmel Zetz for more than three decades of volunteer leadership with the Sunset Beach Sea Turtle Watch. The proclamation credited Zetz with training and supervising more than 200 volunteers, supervising beach patrols during nesting season and providing community education on marine conservation.

"I just wanna thank all my volunteers that made this possible because I could not do this without you," Zetz said after receiving the proclamation, and she thanked the police and fire departments for their assistance on patrols. Mayor noted state recognition of Zetz’s work protecting threatened loggerhead sea turtles and invited volunteers forward for photographs and public thanks.

Council members thanked the volunteers for regular beach patrols, trash documentation and outreach that the proclamation said helps inform the public about microplastic impacts and coastal resource preservation. The presentation concluded with the council’s encouragement for continued volunteer engagement during the nesting season.