Sapelo Island is owned by the state of Georgia as well as a small group of private landowners. Approximately 5,900 acres of Sapelo Island was designated a national Estuarine System Research Reserve (NERR) in 1976. Its establishment was a cooperative effort between the State of Georgia and NOAA. The management of Sapelo Island is the responsibility of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

The GADNR has coordinated a loggerhead turtle conservation program on Sapelo Island since 1987. The goal of project is to monitor and protect loggerhead turtle nests in accordance with the Recovery Plan for the U.S. Population of Loggerhead Turtles and the Management Plan for the Protection of Nesting Loggerhead Sea Turtles and their Habitat in Georgia.

Sapelo Island is approximately 18,186 acres, including 5,900 acres of upland and 9.6 kilometers of beach. The island is located approximately 12 km northeast of Darien. Sapelo Island is divided into 2 contiguous sections of beach including Nannygoat and Cabretta beach. Sapelo Island’s beach habitat is relatively undisturbed with minimal permanent structures and a lighthouse on the south end being the only light source. Based on a 1999 - 2004 GADNR statewide nesting habitat assessment, Sapelo Island is considered a high-quality nesting beach with only a small portion of the nesting habitat categorized as erosional.