By Pam Nicholls, GSAC Board Member
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After multiple weather events decimated hatchling numbers in 2024, beach dwellers need to do their share to ensure that conditions are ripe for sea turtles this nesting season.
According to the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, the storms, tides and surges that flooded our beaches last year wiped out nests and severely affected the number of sea turtle hatchings that made it into the Gulf.
While the Conservancy reported that last season’s nesting numbers were steady, multiple wash-over events destroyed approximately 43% of the 425 nests on Keewaydin Island. Collier County’s Sea Turtle Protection Program recorded 996 nests on the 22.5 miles of shoreline they monitor. Over half (53.7%) were lost to tidal inundations.
Close to home, the situation was similarly dire. Of 213 nests along Park Shore only 77 (36%) hatched out and of the 244 nests on Naples beach, only 71 (29%) made it through the tropical storms, king tides and hurricane surges that pummeled our coast last year.
While we may not be able to prevent nature from taking a toll on the sea turtle population, there are things we humans can do to help nesting turtles and their hatchlings.
From May 1st to October 31st we need to follow the turtle nesting RULES and keep our beaches dark. Remember, artificial light is a sea turtle’s worst nightmare!
If you would like more information, please go to naples.gov.
