Sea turtle nesting season on Sarasota County’s beloved beaches has barely begun, and already there has been activity.
Mote Marine Laboratory’s Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program (STCRP) documented the first nest of the season on Venice Beach on April 27.
The nest, according to Mote, was identified as belonging to a loggerhead sea turtle.
The discovery was a few days ahead of the official start of nesting season, which technically runs from May 1 through Oct. 31.
STCRP staff, interns and more than 300 volunteers make up the familiar Mote’s Sea Turtle Patrol, which monitors 35 miles of beaches from Longboat Key to Venice each day.
Mote is in its 45th year of monitoring Sarasota County’s popular beaches for nesting activity.
“The success of our monitoring efforts is made possible by the dedication of our volunteers, interns, and staff,” Melissa Macksey, Senior Biologist and Data Manager of STCRP, said in a press release. “Their consistent efforts are vital to protecting nesting sea turtles and advancing our long-term research.”
STCRP staff and volunteers are common sights on local beaches. They collect data on nesting activity that allow for long-term trends to be tracked and assess critical aspects of sea turtle ecology.
According to Mote, these include phenological shifts (changes in the timing of nesting), nest density, hatching success, site selection and the influence of environmental conditions.
Another sight that is common to beachgoers are the yellow stakes and flagging tape at each nest.
They are in place to prevent disturbances during data collection.
Number of nests increased on Sarasota County beaches
Last season, according to their website, Mote documented 5,736 nests in Sarasota County, with the most being on Casey Key (2,727), followed by Longboat Key (1,473).
Last year’s total was an increase over prior years. In 2024, for example, there were 4,376 documented nests. In 2023, there were 4,301.
Loggerhead turtles, according to Mote, are the most common species in Sarasota County, followed by green sea turtles. Nests for Kemp’s ridleys and leatherback turtles have also been discovered in recent years as well.
Loggerheads are a threatened species protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Sea turtles and their eggs, along with any nesting marking materials are protected under state and federal law.
Harassment of a sea turtle, living or dead, is subject to penalty, according to Mote.
Where can I get Sarasota County sea turtle updates?
Visit www.mote.org/nesting to view weekly sea turtle updates during the nesting season.
How can I protect sea turtles on Sarasota beaches?
According to Mote, sea turtles swim just offshore to mate before the females come ashore to nest. By early summer the first hatchlings will venture into the water from the beach.
Light from waterfront properties can cause disorientation for nesting female turtles and their young because they emerge at night and use dim natural light to find the water.
It is also crucial to keep the beach clean. Furniture and trash are among the things that can impede sea turtles during the nesting process.
What should I do if I encounter a nesting turtle?
Leave it alone, remain quiet and observe from a distance.
Never shine flashlights, fishing lights or cellphone lights at a nesting turtle.
Turn off outdoor lights that are visible on the beach, close drapes after dark and remove furniture from the beach.
Always fill in holes that may entrap hatchlings on their way to the water as well.
Where can I get more information?
Mote recommends the utilization of the local sea turtle ordinances, including Sarasota County’s marine turtle protection code (which includes Lido, Siesta, Casey and Manasota Keys), the city of Venice marine turtle protection ordinance and the Longboat Key marine turtle protection ordinance.
For questions concerning sea turtle codes or ordinances, people can also contact code enforcement staff from each municipality.
What protocols should be followed on the water?
Mote recommends adhering to Coast Guard-approved safe boating guidelines.
Vigilance should also be used to avoid striking sea turtles and other large marine life.
Always stow trash and line when on the water, as any debris that blows overboard can become ingested by marine life.
Polarized sunglasses are also recommended to better view marine life in your path.
Who can I call in case of emergency?
If you see an injured or stranded sea turtle, dolphin or whale, contact Mote Marine Laboratory’s Stranding Investigations Program at 888-345-2335.
If you’re outside of Sarasota or Manatee counties, you can call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
If you suspect that a person is tampering with a sea turtle nest, harassing a turtle or has possession of a sea turtle or any of its parts, call FWC or the sheriff’s office.
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sea turtle season has started along Sarasota’s shoreline
Reporting by Chris Anderson, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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