Florida records highest-ever sea turtle nest count, but US rollback of protections raises concern
Florida conservation groups report a record number of sea turtle nests this season, but experts warn that the Trump administration's rollback of Endangered Species Act protections could halt decades of recovery.
Wildlife groups in Florida are reporting record sea turtle nesting numbers this season, even though more than two months of the nesting period remain. Along an 8.5-mile stretch of shoreline monitored by the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, loggerhead turtles have already laid 13,770 nests, surpassing every previous year on record. A similar milestone was reached on Sanibel Island on Florida's Gulf coast, where 922 nests have been recorded so far this year, beating the previous high of 878 set in 2023, according to the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation.
The figures reflect a gradual recovery of sea turtle populations since the 1970s, when overhunting, poaching and habitat destruction pushed several species toward extinction — including the loss of roughly 95% of the Caribbean's green turtle population.
Concerns over weakened protections
Experts say the current gains stem largely from the 1973 Endangered Species Act (ESA), since sea turtle hatchlings can take decades to reach reproductive maturity. However, the Trump administration's recent rollback of parts of the ESA, favoring oil drilling, mining, logging and development interests, has raised fears that this progress could stall. A coalition of environmental and wildlife groups is suing the administration, challenging in part a rule that gives outsized weight to economic considerations when deciding on protections for endangered species and their habitats.
David Godfrey, executive director of the Sea Turtle Conservancy, said this year's numbers are the result of decades of sustained protection, noting that the ESA has helped prevent extinction for 99% of the more than 1,700 species it has listed.
Justin Perrault, vice-president of research at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, said the strong nesting figures also reflect favorable environmental conditions, reduced pollution and growing public education around marine conservation. The center's Responsible Pier Initiative, which trains anglers to rescue stranded or injured turtles, has now been adopted at 79 piers nationwide and has helped rescue more than 1,200 turtles.
