Carson Zorn
•1/21/2026

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has released the final sea turtle nesting season totals.
FWC released the statewide totals from 225 monitored beaches across Florida on Tuesday.
Loggerheads remained the most dominant nester in the state, totaling 100,951 nests. FWC said this number is slightly lower than in recent years, but it is still a strong showing for the species.
Green turtles recorded the second-highest season on record with 66,476 nests. While still around 10,000 below the record, FWC said green turtles had a standout year.
Leatherbacks set a new statewide record with 2,012 nests, besting the previous record of 1,848, which was set in 2022.
FWC said Kemp's ridleys remain very rare, but still boasted 12 confirmed nests, with 21 more pending genetic confirmation.
No Hawksbill turtle nests were documented.
"A huge thank you to the biologists, interns, volunteers, and permit holders who worked tirelessly to collect and report this data," FWC said. "Your dedication drives sea turtle conservation forward!"
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.