Turtle nests hit record-breaking numbers

Two months into nesting season, the number of sea turtles laying eggs on local shores has surpassed the 35-year record set in 2015.

Longboat Key Turtle Watch volunteers and Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium staff have recorded 2,638 nests since nesting season began in May, which surpasses last year’s number by 163.

The patrolled area includes the beaches from Longboat Key through Venice. As of July 7, Longboat Key has 814 nests, breaking its record of 698 from the entire 2015 season, according to Turtle Watch volunteers.  On July 2, Casey Key broke its record of 1,174 nests with 1,184. Lido Beach is home to 86 nests while Venice is home to 383 nests.

The first nest of the season hatched on June 26 in Venice.Longboat Key Turtle Watch Vice President Cyndi Seamon said these record-breaking numbers could be occurring due to conservation efforts that took place 30 years ago. She said one of these conservation efforts, turtle excluder devices, known as called TEDs, attach to shrimp nets and help turtles escape when they caught. This helps turtle mature to the age when they can lay eggs. Before these devices, turtles would get caught in nests and drown because they had no way of escaping.

“It takes them until their late 20s or 30s before they mature, so whatever they did back then is allowing more turtles to lay eggs,” Seamon said.