24 Nests Confirmed: Record-Breaking Year for Smallest, Rarest Sea Turtle in Florida

Photo from FWC Facebook post

In a landmark year for sea turtle conservation, Florida has recorded the highest number of Kemp’s ridley sea turtle nests in recent history, according to data from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). As of August 31st, the state has confirmed 24 Kemp’s ridley nests, and while still a very small number, it is a dramatic increase from 10 nests in 2023 and 8 in 2022. This marks a significant victory for this critically endangered species, which has faced decades of population decline due to a variety of factors.

Kemp’s ridleys, the smallest and rarest sea turtle species in the world, are primarily found in the Gulf of Mexico. Historically abundant, their numbers plummeted in the mid-20th century due to bycatch and habitat loss, with just a few hundred females nesting by the 1980s. Thanks to intensive conservation efforts and fisheries management, the species has made a slow recovery, but it remains endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

FWC also reported notable numbers for other sea turtle species in Florida this year:

• 109,929 loggerhead nests (compared to 133,958 in 2023)
• 1,795 leatherback nests, showing a consistent presence
• 12,928 green turtle nests, down from 74,823 in 2023, but expected after last year's record.

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Kemp’s ridley turtles are unique for their synchronized "arribada" nesting behavior, where large groups of females come ashore to nest together. This year’s spike in Florida’s nesting numbers signals a hopeful trend for their population’s rebound.