Local sea turtle nesting season makes history
November 8, 2024 - The Clearwater Marine Aquarium announced Friday that the number of documented sea turtle nests along a 21-mile stretch of Pinellas County coastline increased from 227 in 2023 to 271 this year. Researchers also documented the first leatherback turtle nest in county history and two green sea turtle nests - the first time they found three different nesting species. The increase in nests came amid a storm-shortened season that ended after Hurricane Milton rather than the end of October.