Florida’s 2026 sea turtle nesting season could bring a new statewide record for leatherback turtles, according to preliminary figures from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.
As of Aug. 31, surveyors had documented 2,209 leatherback nests statewide. The FWC said that total would become a new nesting record for the species if it is confirmed during final data review.
Loggerhead turtles have already reached a preliminary 136,972 nests statewide, exceeding the prior annual record of 134,930 nests set in 2023. That count also remains subject to verification before it can be officially declared a record.
Green turtles recorded 50,815 nests. The FWC noted that green turtle nesting totals can vary substantially from year to year, but said 2026 is shaping up as another strong season for the species.
Other documented nests included 15 confirmed Kemp’s ridley nests, a species that remains rare on Florida beaches. The state also recorded its first confirmed olive ridley nest of 2026, a discovery the FWC called one of the season’s most remarkable. No hawksbill nests were recorded.
The agency credited permit holders, volunteers, interns and partners for documenting nesting activity across Florida’s coastline.
