Sea Turtle Nesting Season in Florida: Small Beach Habits That Help Protect Sea Turtles

Protecting the Coast Starts With the Little Things

Every year, Florida beaches become nesting grounds for sea turtles, one of the most incredible parts of coastal life. From spring through fall, female sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs, and weeks later, tiny hatchlings make their way from the sand to the ocean.

It is a beautiful cycle, but it is also a fragile one.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, sea turtle nesting typically begins in March along Florida’s southeast Atlantic coast and starts in April or May on many Gulf Coast and North Florida beaches. FWC encourages beachgoers to help by keeping beaches clean, dark, and free of obstacles. 

https://myfwc.com/news/all-news/sea-turtles-0326/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

At Salty Kiss, we love the ocean, but we also believe loving the coast means helping protect it. Our sea turtle shirts were inspired by that connection — coastal style with a reminder to respect the wildlife that makes Florida beaches so special.

Why Sea Turtles Need Our Help

Sea turtles have been around for millions of years, but today they face serious challenges. Nesting females and hatchlings can be affected by artificial lights, beach furniture, holes in the sand, trash, boats, and people getting too close.

One of the biggest problems during nesting season is light. Hatchlings naturally move toward the brightest horizon, which should be the moonlight and starlight over the ocean. Artificial beachfront lighting can confuse them and lead them away from the water instead. NOAA explains that artificial lighting is a major threat to hatchlings because it can prevent them from finding the sea. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/loggerhead-turtle

That is why simple actions matter.

Easy Ways to Help Protect Sea Turtles

1. Keep the Beach Dark at Night

During nesting season, avoid using bright flashlights, phone lights, or flash photography on the beach at night. If you are staying near the beach, close curtains and turn off unnecessary outdoor lights.

FWC recommends using turtle-friendly lighting that is long wavelength, mounted low, and shielded when lighting is needed near the beach. 

A good rule to remember:

Lights out. Turtles on.

2. Fill in Holes and Knock Down Sandcastles

Holes in the sand may seem harmless, but they can trap hatchlings or make it harder for nesting females to move safely across the beach. Before leaving for the day, fill in holes, flatten sandcastles, and leave the beach as smooth as possible.

FWC specifically warns that trash, holes, and other obstacles can prevent hatchlings from reaching the water and can block nesting females from safely laying eggs.

3. Take Beach Gear With You

Chairs, umbrellas, tents, toys, coolers, and canopies should not be left on the sand overnight. Nesting sea turtles need a clear path from the ocean to the dunes and back.

Before sunset, pack up your beach setup and make sure nothing is left behind.

4. Give Sea Turtles Space

Seeing a sea turtle in the wild is unforgettable, but it is important to admire from a distance. Getting too close can disturb a nesting turtle and may cause her to return to the ocean before laying her eggs. It is illegal to harm or disturb nesting sea turtles, their nests, eggs, or hatchlings.

Look, don’t touch. Watch quietly. Let nature do its thing.

5. Pick Up Trash and Skip Balloons

Plastic bags, fishing line, food wrappers, balloons, and other trash can be dangerous for sea turtles and marine life. Always pack out what you bring in, and pick up extra trash when you can.

A cleaner beach is safer for turtles, birds, fish, and everyone who loves the coast.

Our sea turtle shirts are more than just coastal apparel. They are a small way to wear what you care about — ocean life, beach days, and protecting the places that make Florida special.

Whether you are heading to the beach, walking the shoreline, boating, fishing, or just love sea turtles, these designs are made for people who feel connected to the water.

Shop our sea turtle-inspired shirts:

Women's Relaxed Tee - Watercolor Turtle

Women's Performance Long Sleeve UV +40 - Coastal Sea Turtle

What To Do If You See an Injured or Stranded Sea Turtle

If you find an injured, stranded, or dead sea turtle, do not try to move it yourself. Report it to local wildlife officials.

In Florida, FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline is:

1-888-404-FWCC

1-888-404-3922

Protect What You Love

Sea turtle nesting season is a reminder that the beach is not just a place we visit — it is a home for wildlife.

Turning off lights, filling in holes, cleaning up trash, and giving turtles space may feel small, but those choices can make a real difference.

At Salty Kiss, we believe coastal living should come with coastal responsibility. Wear the turtle. Protect the turtle. Love the coast well.

Built for beach days, bait runs & salty stories.