Sea Turtles Defy Odds, Shatter Nesting Records in Florida

In a remarkable display of resilience, sea turtles have defied the odds and delivered one of the strongest nesting seasons ever recorded in Juno Beach, Jupiter and Tequesta, Florida. According to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, a nonprofit conservation organization, the 2025 nesting season saw a total of 20,872 sea turtle nests, the third-highest number on record.

This impressive tally includes 12,247 loggerhead, 8,363 green, and 262 leatherback turtle nests. The green turtle nests, in particular, saw a near-record high, with a 40% increase from the previous year's 14,951 nests. Justin Perrault, the vice president of research at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, expressed surprise at the surge in green turtle numbers, noting that they had expected increases but not to this extent.

The turtles' success is even more remarkable given the challenges they faced during the season. Strong winds, high tides, and tropical storms threatened to wash away nests and hatchlings. Beach erosion, especially in September and October, also exposed some buried sea turtle eggs. Despite these obstacles, the turtles persevered, demonstrating the resilience of these threatened and endangered species.

Perrault attributed the turtles' thriving numbers to conservation efforts, including changes in fisheries regulations, nest monitoring requirements, and increased public awareness. However, he cautioned that no nesting season is ever a total loss, as sea turtles spread their nests out in space and time to ensure that if one is washed away, others may still hatch.

As the 2025 nesting season comes to a close, the Loggerhead Marinelife Center's researchers are celebrating this remarkable achievement, which serves as a testament to the ongoing efforts to protect and preserve these iconic marine creatures.