Record Year for Florida Green Turtles

It’s been a record-breaking year for Florida’s green turtles.

That’s the conclusion drawn by experts at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute after the results of a recent survey were released.

“Green turtles broke a new Index Nesting Beach Survey record with approximately 28,000 nests on 26 index beaches this year,” the agency on its Facebook page. “Loggerheads accounted for 52,647 nests on index beaches, and leatherbacks rounded out the top three with 489 nests in 2015.”

The survey is conducted by FWC-trained an authorized surveyors from around the state. These surveyors monitor nests on specific beaches and record data related to their findings.

“Researchers use the data from these index beaches to identify nesting trends over time,” the institute explained. “Green turtle nesting has increased exponentially over the past 27 years, and loggerhead nest counts on index beaches this year are comparable to the nesting numbers documented in the 1990s,” the institute noted.

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Just about 30 years ago, only 464 green turtle nests were recorded on the 26 beaches included in the survey, a state media release noted. In 2011, the count climbed to 10,701. This year’s 28,000 nests broke records.

Full results from the statewide Nesting Beach Survey program will be available in early 2016.

Sea turtles are protected under federal law. It is illegal to harass or interfere with them in any way or to disturb a nest. Anyone who sees someone disturbing a sea turtle is asked to call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922) or local law enforcement.

To find out more about green turtle nesting in Florida, visit FWC online.

Photo courtesy of the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute