May 1 is the Beginning of Sea Turtle Nesting Season
 CLEARWATER, FL – Clearwater Marine Aquarium and the city of Clearwater reminds the public that sea turtle nesting season begins May 1 and runs through Oct. 31, a critical time for sea turtles that continue their legacy and return to their original beach where they were born to lay their eggs.
As many as five different species of sea turtles nest along beaches in the state of Florida, including leatherbacks, green sea turtles, loggerheads, Kemp’s ridley and hawksbills, all of which are threatened or endangered species.
“We want to remind locals, new residents and tourists that the nesting season is here, and to be attentive when visiting the beach during this special time,” said Clearwater Marine Aquarium's Sea Turtle Conservation Program Manager Lindsey Flynn.
Just this week, Flynn’s team found its first sea turtle nest in their area, which is historically early and the first-ever recorded by CMA before the official start of the season on May 1. Last year, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) recorded a total of 488 nests in Pinellas County.
She and her team of 24 staff, college interns and volunteers are trained each year to carefully monitor nearly 21 miles of beach, seven days a week, from April 15 through Oct. 31, looking for signs of turtle tracks that show a female turtle has nested nearby.
While sea turtle hatchlings look cute and cuddly, it is important not to interact with them, as they are protected by state and federal laws. It is also very important to take items with you at the end of the beach day, so turtles can nest and hatch successfully overnight.
Clearwater Marine Aquarium recommends 10 Turtle Tips
- Pick up your trash, especially plastic bags, which can be mistaken for jellyfish, one of turtles’ favorite foods
- Fill any holes dug during your stay on the beach
- Knock down sand castles at the end of your day
- Hatchling sea turtles are very sensitive and should not be disturbed
- If you see a turtle on the beach, please do not interact with it
- Never touch or disturb a nest
- Keep flashlights and camera phone lights turned off at night
- Beach residents and businesses should change outdoor lights to sea turtle friendly options
- Use special protective window treatments on doors and windows to minimize interior light from reaching the beach
- If you see an injured turtle, call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at (888) 404-3922
CMA reports annual nesting data to the FWC and Pinellas County. The team reports nest and false crawl counts, disorientation events, obstruction events, predation and vandalism to FWC.
“A big challenge we face is encouraging residents and businesses to use sea turtle friendly lighting to reduce the number of sea turtles crawling away from the water or wandering on the beach, due to the presence of bright artificial lights.” The team provides educational resources to show which types of lights are less distracting to turtles.
CMA also offers a Protect the Nest Program, which allows the public to purchase a personalized plaque and virtually adopt a sea turtle nest for the year to protect nests in CMA’s survey area.
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About Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working marine rescue center dedicated to inspiring the human spirit through leadership in education, research, rescue, rehabilitation and release. With a mission to preserve the environment and its marine life, CMA is home to rescued dolphins, sea turtles, river otters, stingrays, and more. Through Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, CMA conducts important global research focused on protecting manatees, North Atlantic right whales and sea turtles. Major motion picture Dolphin Tale (2011) and its sequel Dolphin Tale 2 (2014) features the true stories of rescued resident dolphins Winter and Hope, inspiring millions around the world. The mission and potential to change people’s lives differentiates Clearwater Marine Aquarium from any other aquarium in the world. CMAquarium.org.
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