Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium: First Sea Turtle Nest Hatches on Longboat Key

First Sea Turtle Nest Hatches on Longboat Key

The hatched loggerhead sea turtle nest was reported Sunday, June 22, on the Sarasota County side of Longboat Key by Mote’s Sea Turtle Patrol — a group of scientists, interns and more than 300 volunteers who monitor sea turtle nesting activity every day of nesting season, May 1-Oct. 31, along 35 miles of local beaches.
 
Mote scientists say nesting season is going strong and they hope for a healthy number of hatchlings. So far this year, Mote has documented 1,095 nests from loggerheads, the most common sea turtle species nesting in Southwest Florida, along with two nests from Kemp’s ridleys, the rarest species on local beaches.

Mote’s Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program is monitoring local sea turtle nesting for its 33^rd year, collecting long-term data that is vital for understanding and protecting these long-lived reptiles. Mote documents each new nest while collecting detailed scientific information about a representative sample of nests, helping to reveal sea turtle population trends and contributing to statewide monitoring efforts.

As part of this research and conservation mission, Mote scientists document and tag sea turtles for identification when they come ashore to nest at night. So far this year, Mote scientists have documented 196 nesting turtles (some were repeat encounters with a single turtle), and documented 91 new individual turtles never before recorded on local beaches. Also so far this year, Mote scientists have documented two turtles they first ID-tagged in 1987.

Beachgoers should report any sea turtles nesting during the day to Mote’s Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program at 941-388-4331. Rare Kemp’s ridley sea turtles normally nest during the day, while loggerheads and greens usually nest at night.

• Tips for the public about nesting season can be found on our 2014 Nesting Updates page.