Sea Turtle Protection

Sea turtle nesting season in Martin County runs from March 1 through October 31. Martin County’s beaches are critical nesting habitat for endangered and threatened sea turtle species. 

Local beaches provide nesting habitat for at least three species: loggerhead (Caretta caretta), green (Chelonia mydas), and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea). 

Martin County asks residents, businesses, and visitors to help protect sea turtles by adopting sea turtle-friendly practices on our beaches during the upcoming nesting season. 

Reminders & Tips

• Do not disturb or touch nesting sea turtles, hatchlings, or their nests. Sea turtles are protected by both state and federal laws.
• Avoid using flash photography while on the beach at night.
• Turn off patio lights or close blinds/curtains for indoor lights so that they do not shine directly onto the beach. Lights can disturb nesting sea turtles and hatchlings.
• Fill in holes in the sand and knock down sand castles before leaving the beach. These can create confusion and obstruct a path to the nest or the ocean.

If you observe sea turtle nest poaching or harassment of sea turtles on the beach, or to report sick, injured, entangled or dead sea turtles, please call Florida Fish and Wildlife's Alert Hotline at 1-888-404-3922 (FWCC).