July 30, 2026 – The 2026 sea turtle nesting season is shaping up to be another exceptional one for Florida’s Space Coast, especially here in Brevard County.
Brevard County is on pace for another outstanding nesting year. Local biologists reported in June that many beaches were seeing 350 nests per mile, with some southern Brevard beaches reaching 1,000 nests per mile, putting the county in contention for another near-record season.
The Indian River Lagoon is one of the most important ecosystems for sea turtles in North America, with its meadows of seagrass, one of the primary foods of adult and juvenile green sea turtles. The young turtles stay in the calm, shallow waters of the Lagoon before moving into the Atlantic when they grow stronger. This is another reason to help restore the Lagoon and the seagrass that is so important to these sea creatures.
The nesting season runs through October, with different species peaking at different times:
- Leatherbacks: April–June
- Loggerheads: May–August
- Green turtles: June–September
Hatchlings are emerging now. Late July is one of the most exciting times on the Space Coast because many of the loggerhead nests laid in May and June are now hatching. Green turtle hatchlings are beginning to emerge as well. Hatchlings typically emerge after about 55–65 days in the nest, usually at night.
Brevard County remains one of the world’s premier sea turtle nesting areas. In 2025, more than 53,000 nests were recorded in Brevard County alone—an extraordinary total that included over 20,000 green turtle nests, one of the highest counts ever documented.
This is the time of year to be especially careful:
- Fill in holes before leaving the beach.
- Knock down sandcastles.
- Keep beaches dark at night—avoid flashlights and flash photography.
- Stay well away from nesting turtles and hatchlings.
If you see a hatchling heading the wrong way or an injured turtle, contact the Sea Turtle Preservation Society rather than intervening yourself.
Also from FLORIDA TODAY:
Lights on the beach can confuse turtle hatchlings and stop them from heading to the ocean when they hatch.
Because few sea turtles hatch on Florida beaches until later in the year, most local beachside governments have ordinances that require people to turn their beach lights out from May 1 to Oct. 31, prime sea turtle nesting time. But others, such as in Satellite Beach, have lighting restrictions that kick in March 1 and also run through Oct. 31, with lights out from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.
The next 4–8 weeks are probably the best opportunity of the year to witness hatchlings naturally making their way to the ocean. But look, don’t touch. These babies have enough natural obstacles and certainly don’t need any more.
What You Can Do Today:
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Source: FLORIDA TODAY