DAYTONA BEACH -- A significant decline in the number of turtle nests this summer on Volusia beaches has county officials concerned and looking for answers. And the same thing appears to be happening on other Florida beaches.
The county recorded 338 nests - 324 loggerhead nests, eight green and six leatherback nests - which is the lowest total since 2004 when the nesting season was interrupted by a series of hurricanes which caused extensive erosion to the beaches.
“Despite the beach habitat rebuilding and re-vegetating naturally, the number of nests this year was the third lowest in the last 19
years,” said Jennifer Winters, Volusia County’s sea turtle Habitat Conservation Plan program manager. “The green and leatherback
sea turtles continue to show a slightly upward nesting trend in Volusia County. The low loggerhead nesting count also has been occurring throughout the state and is a major concern for the status of the species which is listed as threatened.”
Each nest counted this season had an average of 100 to 110 sea turtle eggs. Winters estimated 27,000 eggs successfully hatched this season, compared to 40,000 during an average year.
Though the nesting season has ended, there are five nests due to hatch in November. “Notices to all nearby residences have been sent out to request they continue to comply with lighting regulations until the nest in their area is gone,” Winters said.
Beachgoers who find sea turtles on the beach this time of year are asked to notify the Volusia County Beach Patrol at (386) 239-6414. For
more information about Volusia County’s sea turtles program, please call (386) 238-4668 or visit www.volusiaseaturtles.org.
Volusia County has protected actively coastal wildlife by implementing a Sea Turtle Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) since 1996. The HCP commits the county to protecting sea turtles, piping plovers, and other coastal wildlife and their habitat, while allowing public driving on parts of Volusia County beaches.
According to Winters, the number of night lighting disorientation events (when turtles emerging from a hatching nest get confused by lights) was very low compared to past years, with only 11 cases this season. This is largely due to educational events and streetlight shielding efforts and a change in the method for addressing private property lighting problems, she added.