Nesting
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Fish and
Wildlife Research Institute coordinates nesting beach survey
programs around the state.
Concern over a decline in annual loggerhead nest counts prompted a detailed analysis of the species' nesting trends since 1989. This summary updates that statistical analysis, published in a 2009 journal article, with data through 2011.
The state of Florida, through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, coordinates two sea turtle monitoring programs: the Statewide Nesting Beach Survey and the Index Nesting Beach Survey.
The training materials contained in this article are intended for principal permit holders and their volunteers. It is not necessary to bring these to the workshop. They are intended as reference materials.
The following table contains the Florida Statewide Nesting Beach Survey data for the 2011 season. The data are divided into two main regions (east and west) and divided by county.
Florida's Index Nesting Beach Survey records sea turtle nest counts
on a standardized set of index beaches. Researchers use the annual
survey to determine nesting trends.
The southeastern United States hosts the world's largest nesting aggregation of the loggerhead turtle.
Florida's green turtle nesting aggregation is the second largest in the Western Hemisphere.
Florida is the only state in the continental U.S. where leatherback turtles regularly nest.
A 1995 publication on sea turtle nesting activity.
Visit the Marine Resources GIS site to view nesting data.
View photos from sea turtle nesting activities around the state
of Florida.
Persons with Disabilities