The annual sea turtle nesting season runs from May 1 through October 31. Nearly 70 percent of the nationโs sea turtle nesting takes place on Florida beaches. In a typical year, about 500 sea turtle nests are laid on Volusia County beaches. Just three months into the 2022 nesting season, a record-breaking 1,291 nests have been observed. The loggerhead are the most common sea turtle species to nest in the area. The green, leatherback and every so often, a Kempโs ridley – all considered endangered species – also call Volusiaโs coasts home.
The most recent year that saw an increase in nests was 2019, totaling 984 nests. That number dropped a bit to 902 in 2020 and 780 in 2021 before climbing sharply this year. Similar trends are being observed on other nesting beaches in the state. Volusia County staff and volunteers are extremely busy marking and monitoring nests, but they need the publicโs help in ensuring a safe passage from nests to the ocean.
ย โWe ask beachgoers to make sure the beach is dark, clean and flat at night so hatchlings can
find their way offshore to the floating sargassum seaweed where they will spend the first portion of their lives,โ said Jennifer Winters, Volusia Countyโs protected species manager.
Listed below are a few simple things the public can remember to help protect these creatures:
- Do not disturb nesting sea turtles, hatchlings or their nests.
- Do not dig holes. If you do, please fill them back in.ย
- Keep the beach dark. Use only red LED portable lights.
- Tear down sand castles and remove all beach equipment and sand toys.
- Use designated crossovers or walkways and keep off the sand dunes.ย
To help protect turtles from bright lights, the county adopted a lighting ordinance and actively works with oceanfront property owners to reduce artificial lighting problems.
As of July 24, 2022, New Smyrna Beachโs total nests were recorded as 638, nearly half of the countyโs total. The website, VolusiaSeaTurtles.org, features a sea turtle nest dashboard including an up-to-date nest counter, a graph of monthly totals, nests by city name and helpful links to resources including sea turtle biology, beachfront lighting and more information.ย
The busy nesting season will lead to a busy washback season as many of the young turtles will be washed back to shore when summer storms send seaweed hurtling to the beaches. โThe tiny turtles blend in with the seaweed, making them difficult to spot,โ Winters noted. โTragically they do not have the energy to make it back offshore without help, and they may die of dehydration or predation if they are left on the beach.โ
Volusia Countyโs Environmental Management Division has trained a team of Washback Watchers, who comb the beach each day as fresh seaweed washes in during washback season, which lasts from August through November. Volunteers may register for next yearโs training classes at VolusiaSeaTurtles.org.
โIf you find a washback or hatchling on the beach that is in imminent danger, do not put it back in the ocean,โ Winters stressed. โInstead, contact Beach Safety for further instruction. These animals are often exhausted and can barely lift their heads to breathe. Holding them in water or putting them in the ocean can be fatal.โ
She encourages people to follow these tips if they find a washback sea turtle:ย
- Make sure the turtle is out of harmโs way. Do not take it home.
- Provide shade over the turtle and determine your exact location. The address, building name, street name or GPS location are most helpful.
- Immediately notify Beach Safety at (386) 239-6414. Between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., call the Volusia Sheriffโs Office at (386) 248-1777, ext. 6.
- Keep the turtle in a quiet, dry, shaded area – even if you think itโs dead. Staff from Beach Safety or a partner organization will coordinate with you to collect the turtle.
ย Washbacks are brought to the Marine Science Center, where they are treated and returned to the ocean by boat when they are strong enough to swim.