Volusia County’s shoreline is experiencing a record-breaking sea turtle nesting season, with over 700 nests documented so far. This surpasses the previous record of around 450 nests in 2023. According to environmental experts, Ormond Beach and New Smyrna Beach have the highest concentrations of turtle nests, with many located just feet apart along the shoreline.

Conservation Efforts Paying Off

Experts believe the record-breaking numbers may be the result of conservation efforts that began decades ago. It takes about 25 to 30 years for sea turtles to reach sexual maturity and get into the breeding population. The fruits of the labor of all the people and conservation that came before us, who started protecting the turtles back in the 1970s, may now be paying off as nesting numbers continue to climb across Volusia County.

Sea turtles are protected under the Endangered Species Act, and officials say years of conservation work may now be paying off. The sea turtle nesting season in Florida runs through October 31, with hatchlings expected to begin emerging from many of the county’s nests this summer.

Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.