“Florida’s wildlife agency reports that there are 82 percent more loggerhead sea turtle nests in the state this year compared to the same period of 2025, the latest good news in a broader story of sea turtle recovery,” notes The Doomslayer.
A good news website adds:
In Florida, sea turtle nesting season typically runs from March 1 through October 31. On May 13, despite only being just two months into the season, the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute had an exciting update to share.
‘The 2026 sea turtle nesting season is officially off and with a strong start!’ the FWC wrote in a Facebook post. ‘Loggerheads and leatherbacks are both currently outpacing their recent record-breaking years.’
In the post, the FWC reported 1,008 leatherback nests — up by 4% compared to May 2025. There were also three Kemp’s ridley nests, up by two from this time last year, marking a huge improvement for the world’s smallest and most endangered sea turtle.
But it was the number of loggerhead sea turtle nests that was truly remarkable. The 2026 count was already at 1,450 — roughly 82% better than it was this time last year.
Nature notes that
Sea turtles experienced myriad human impacts during the twentieth century that caused extreme mortality across all seven species. Extensive conservation efforts have been undertaken to protect sea turtles and reverse the major declines seen in many of their populations. In this Review we assess the status and trends of global sea turtle populations and identify conservation interventions that have been linked to population recoveries. Some threats, such as the direct harvest of turtles, have abated…in general, sea turtle populations are rebounding worldwide, with nest numbers increasing at many nesting sites. However, certain populations are still declining dramatically, such as leatherback turtle populations in the Pacific Ocean….Key unresolved questions include…the magnitude of climate warming’s impact on adult sex ratios, and the effect of growing threats such as increasing plastic pollution. Despite some conservation successes, cautious optimism is advised when considering the future of sea turtles in a rapidly changing world.
A nasty tumor that killed many sea turtles is diminishing.
“Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, one of the world’s most endangered species, have laid a record 383 nests on the Texas coast so far in 2025, surpassing the previous high of 353 set in 2017,” reported The Doomslayer.
In Florida, populations of manatees and sea turtles have rebounded in recent years, so the rise in loggerhead sea turtle nests in 2026 is not a fluke. Sea turtle nests tripled in Florida in 2023. Florida’s manatee population was less than 1,300 in 1991, and is over 8,000 today.
Fish species are rebounding off the coast of California due to their young finding a sanctuary in abandoned oil rigs.
Sea turtles are rebounding in most of the world. Sea turtles are making a comeback in the Mediterranean, especially Greece.
