Log In | Become a Member

Canaveral National Seashore Sees Record Number of Sea Turtle Nests


August 19, 2013 | WMFE - A record number of sea turtles are nesting this summer at Canaveral National Seashore. And beaches statewide are seeing similar numbers.

More than 7,000 nests are expected by the end of the season next month.

John Stiner of Canaveral National Seashore says that dwarfs last year's record of nearly 6,000 nests.

"Actually this year we have shattered all of our previous records."

Stiner says sea turtles are benefitting from protection measures implemented in the last 20 years like lights out along the beaches and turtle exclusion devices on shrimp nets.

"And now we're just beginning to see the results of that as these hatchings that were saved back in the mid-80s are now reaching maturity and coming ashore to nest."

The record surprised the Canaveral National Seashore staff. They were expecting a down year after last year's record number of nests.  

 

All active news articles