Most successful sea turtle nesting season in decades reported

Scientists at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium believe this year’s sea turtle nesting season is a step in the right direction. 

Between April and October, a record-breaking 405 nests and 613 false crawls were noticed on a 21-mile stretch of beach in Pinellas County. These numbers were the highest in 30 years. 

In comparison, 271 nests were observed in 2024 – which was itself an increase. 

False crawls refer to when a nesting turtle comes up to a beach but does not dig a nest. 

The reptiles, which can reach 300 pounds when fully mature, come ashore to nest under cover of darkness. Approximately 100 eggs are laid.

CMA’s Sea Turtle Conservation Program manager Carly Oakley explained that the numbers could reflect two scenarios. 

“It is either that our conservation efforts are working and obviously making a difference. Therefore, there are more turtles to lay more nests,” she said. “Or other areas might have been more negatively impacted by the 2024 hurricanes so the turtles had to find somewhere else to nest.” 

Oakley believes that conservation efforts have played a role over the years. To exemplify, she explained that green turtles were taken off the endangered species list in October. 

However, they are still considered threatened within Florida. The more common loggerhead turtles are also considered threatened, rather than endangered, in the state. 

“What these numbers mean going forward is that we are hopefully expecting to continue to see a rise in the number of nests that we are observing,” Oakley said. 

More areas on local beaches will likely be closed off to encourage nesting. Sea turtles have a one in 1,000 percent chance of growing up to be a reproducing adult, she explained. 

Since it takes 25 to 30 years for a sea turtle to mature, the impacts of recent seasons cannot be determined. 

Oakley said that CMA scientists have noticed a three-year trend in nesting seasons including a high, moderate and low year. 

This, she explained, shows that sea turtles do not nest every year and rest for a period of time. While 2026 is expected to be a “low year,” this season’s numbers may indicate that there will be more nests than anticipated. 

The beach nourishment project underway in Pinellas County could have an impact in the future. 

“The main thing that it does is provide more beach space for our sea turtles to lay their nests on,” Oakley said. “It gives them the opportunity to choose more locations.” 

There are steps community members can take to support nesting and sea turtle safety. 

If one notices a nesting sea turtle or hatchling in trouble, do not interact with it, Oakley cautioned. They are federally protected. If someone is caught tampering with a sea turtle, they could receive a jail sentence. 

She explained that it is best to call local organizations like CMA to handle any potential issues. 

Oakley added that it’s important to keep beaches clean and flat. She said that it’s essential to bury sand holes and knock down sand castles before leaving a beach. This ensures that there is an easy runway to and from the water for the sea turtles. 

Additionally, it is important to remove trash so that it doesn’t get caught on nesting turtles and hatchlings. 

A sea turtle hatchling coming out of its egg. Photo: Clearwater Marine Aquarium.