Sarasota County’s beaches hosted 4,928 sea turtle nests in 2026, according to Mote Marine Laboratory’s Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program. The tally came from 35 miles of coastline stretching from Longboat Key to Venice, watched every morning of the season by staff, interns and more than 300 Sea Turtle Patrol volunteers. Loggerheads dominated with 4,732 nests, green sea turtles added 196, and no Kemp’s ridley or leatherback nests were recorded this year.
Alongside the nest count, Mote documented 253 disorientations, cases where hatchlings or nesting females were drawn away from the Gulf by artificial shoreline lighting. Mote notes that disoriented turtles can face exhaustion, dehydration or death, which keeps beachfront lighting rules at the center of local conservation work.
The program has monitored Sarasota County nesting since 1982, and Melissa Macksey, senior biologist and data manager, credited the dedication of the crews who document nests and check hatchling success each day. For residents, the numbers offer both a reason to celebrate and a practical reminder: shield outdoor lights, aim them away from the sand, and keep the beach dark for the next generation. Have you seen a nest on your stretch of beach this year? Share your sightings with us.
