Mote Marine Marks 45 Seasons Monitoring Sea Turtle Nesting on Florida Beaches

2 November 2026
Edited By: Haley McQueen

For the 45th year, Mote's Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program (STCRP) monitored sea turtle nesting activity during the 2026 nesting season along 35 miles of Sarasota County beaches, from Longboat Key to Venice. This season, STCRP documented 4,928 total nests, including 4,732 loggerhead nests and 196 green sea turtle nests. Sarasota County occasionally hosts rare nests from Kemp's ridley and leatherback turtles as well, though neither species was documented this year.

(Image credit: Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium)

Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), a threatened species protected under the US Endangered Species Act, account for the vast majority of nests recorded along these beaches. Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) also nest in the area, and both species face threats from coastal development, artificial lighting, and other human activities.

In addition to monitoring nesting activity, STCRP works to protect sea turtles, their nests, and hatchlings from potential threats throughout the season. In 2026, the program documented 253 sea turtle disorientations. Disorientations occur when artificial lighting along the shoreline misleads hatchlings or nesting females away from the ocean, often resulting in exhaustion, dehydration, or death. Reducing beachfront lighting, removing beach furniture at night, and keeping nesting areas clear are important steps the community can take to help protect sea turtles.

Mote’s STCRP has monitored and protected sea turtle nesting activity since 1982, collecting long-term data essential to understanding population trends, reproductive success, and the effects of environmental and human factors on nesting behavior. This long-running dataset represents one of the longest continuous sea turtle monitoring efforts in the United States and supports conservation research and management decisions by local, state, and federal partners.

“Protecting sea turtles requires an incredible amount of dedication throughout the nesting season,” said Melissa Macksey, Senior Biologist and Data Manager of Mote’s Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program. “Our staff, interns and volunteers worked diligently each day to document nesting activity, protect nests and monitor hatchling success. We could not achieve our mission without them.”

The dedicated individuals of Mote’s Sea Turtle Patrol are at the heart of this mission. Comprising STCRP staff, interns, and more than 300 volunteers, the Sea Turtle Patrol conducts daily surveys from April 15 through October 31, documenting nesting crawls, nests, and hatchling emergences. STCRP’s careful monitoring helps ensure nests are properly marked and protected throughout the season.

STCRP scientists use the data they collect to study changes in the timing of nesting, nest density, hatching success, and the influence of environmental conditions. This research helps scientists better understand sea turtle reproductive patterns and supports conservation strategies to protect these threatened and endangered animals.

To learn more about joining Mote’s Sea Turtle Patrol or doing your part to keep sea turtles safe on our beaches, visit mote.org/seaturtles.