Green turtles had a strong yearFlorida’s 2025 sea turtle nesting season has wrapped up with impressive results, marking another year of success for the state’s conservation efforts — and Brevard County’s beaches once again played a leading role. Brevard County, home to more than 70 miles of Atlantic shoreline, serves as one of the most critical nesting regions in the state. (FWC Image)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Florida’s 2025 sea turtle nesting season has wrapped up with impressive results, marking another year of success for the state’s conservation efforts — and Brevard County’s beaches once again played a leading role.

Brevard County, home to more than 70 miles of Atlantic shoreline, serves as one of the most critical nesting regions in the state.

The county’s beaches — including Canaveral National Seashore, the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, and Melbourne Beach — consistently rank among the top nesting areas for loggerhead and green turtles in the Western Hemisphere.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI), loggerhead turtles remained the most abundant species, with 103,507 nests recorded statewide.

Green turtles also had a strong year, producing 65,911 nests, making 2025 the second-highest green turtle nesting season on record, surpassed only by 2023.

Leatherbacks, the largest and least common of Florida’s nesting species, set a new state record with 2,075 nests — a milestone that researchers are calling a remarkable sign of progress.

Kemp’s ridley turtles, among the world’s most endangered sea turtle species, remained steady with 10 confirmed nests and a few additional suspected sites awaiting verification. No hawksbill nests were reported this year.

FWRI officials credit the success to the dedicated work of hundreds of permit holders, biologists, and volunteers who monitor beaches throughout the nesting season, collecting critical data and safeguarding nests from human and environmental threats.

“These results show that long-term conservation and habitat protection are paying off,” FWRI researchers said in the report. “Ongoing monitoring and research are vital to ensuring Florida remains a stronghold for sea turtle recovery.”

Preliminary totals from 2025 highlight Florida’s continued leadership in sea turtle conservation and underscore the importance of protecting coastal habitats for generations to come.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute released its end-of-season update showing another successful year for sea turtle nesting. (FWC Image)