PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — After late-season storms caused a less than stellar year for sea turtle nesting, the team with Clearwater Marine Aquarium is hoping the 2024 season holds a different fate.

What You Need To Know

  •  227 sea turtle nests recorded by Clearwater Marine Aquarium in 2023

  •  Late-season storms washed away roughly 60 nests last year 

  •  Sea turtle nesting season lasts until October 31

  • TURTLE-SAFE RULES: Guidelines now in effect 

Clearwater Marine Aquarium tracks sea turtle nesting each year on the 21-mile stretch of beach from Clearwater to Treasure Island. The volunteer-based group Sea Turtle Trackers patrol St. Pete Beach, Shell Key Reserve, and Outback Key.

Last year, 227 sea turtle nests were recorded by the team with Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Sea Turtle Conservation Program Manager Wendy Hoeflich says that’s a dip from the previous year and attributed to the late-season storms that washed away roughly 60 nests.

“The year before we had over 300 nests so we’re hoping that trends going back up this year,” she said.

The back-to-back storms also caused significant erosion on some Pinellas County beaches including Treasure Island, Indian Rocks, and Pass-a-Grille where multi-million dollar restoration projects helped to replace some of the lost sand and dunes.

“There are some areas where there’s not a lot of beach and we are a little worried we’ll have less nesting in those areas,” Hoeflich said, “We’re hoping the turtles adjust and come down to the area that there is more land for them to nest on."

Hoeflich called it a moment-in-time setback and is optimistic about this year’s outcome. Patrols began this year on April 15, per new FWC guidelines.

“We have had some early nests,” she said. “We didn’t have an April nest this year but we did have an April nest last year.”

Turtle-safe rules are now in effect for people visiting Florida’s west coast beaches. All costal facing lights must be turned off or replaced with amber bulbs. There’s no light or flashlights allowed on the beach after dark and all chairs, trash, and items must be taken off the sand each night.

Last year, Pinellas County reported at least 178 of which were disoriented by lights or obstacles.

Sea turtle nesting season ends Oct. 31.