LOT began its existence as a local turtle conservation project called Watamu Turtle Watch (WTW). WTW was formed in 1997 to continue and further develop the marine turtle conservation efforts of a local naturalist Barbara Simpson, which she had been undertaking in the area since the 1970's.  In its first two years WTW focused its conservation efforts on sea turtles in Watamu Marine Park and along the northern shores of Mida Creek, with a related education program.
 
Very quickly Watamu Turtle Watch came to realise that the survival of the marine turtles in Watamu was intrinsically linked to the well being of the surrounding marine environment and to the protection of turtles across their migratory range.
 
Concerned by the widespread degradation of the Kenyan marine environment, and  national exploitation of marine turtles, WTW broadened its conservation efforts to encompass these issues while maintaining a focus of its turtle activities in the Watamu / Malindi area.

To reflect this growth in the project WTW spawned a “big brother”, the Local Ocean Trust, in October 2002. LOT now undertakes the general marine conservation work of WTW both locally and nationally. WTW is retained as the LOT flagship program, focusing specifically on sea turtle conservation. See also http://www.adoptaseaturtle.com

LOT is a registered Charitable Trust, which operates according to an approved constitution and is co-ordinated by a committee of trustees. LOT works in close co-operation with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Fisheries Department, Kenya Marine Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) and the Kenya Sea Turtle Conservation Committee (KESCOM), of which it is a member.