8/11/26 @ 6:00 a.m.

Sea turtles are more than just a beloved sight on our beaches, they play an important role in keeping coastal and ocean ecosystems healthy!

Sea turtles are considered a keystone species, meaning their presence can have a significant impact on the health and balance of their environment. Here are five ways they contribute:

1. They help keep marine ecosystems in balance.
Different species help control the animals and plants they feed on. Hawksbill turtles eat sponges that can compete with corals for space, while leatherbacks help keep jellyfish populations in check.

2. Nesting turtles help nourish our beaches.
Not every egg will hatch, and not every hatchling will make it to the ocean. The eggs, shells and other organic material left behind provide nutrients that can benefit coastal vegetation and the beach ecosystem.

3. Hatchlings are part of the food web.
Although we want every hatchling to reach the water, they are also an important natural food source for birds, fish and other wildlife. That’s part of the complex coastal food web—and one reason nesting season is so important to so many species.

4. Sea turtles benefit people, too.
Sea turtle conservation supports coastal communities through ecotourism, research, education and wildlife viewing. For many of us, simply seeing a sea turtle in the wild creates a lasting connection to our coast.

5. Green turtles help maintain healthy seagrass beds.
Green sea turtles graze on seagrass, helping maintain healthy seagrass ecosystems that provide habitat and food for many other marine species. Healthy seagrass beds also play an important role in storing carbon.

Here in Nassau County, our nesting beaches are part of this larger coastal ecosystem. Every nest, hatchling and adult turtle contributes to the health and diversity of our coastline.
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So the next time you see a sea turtle, or simply see a protected nest on the beach, remember that you’re looking at an important part of a much bigger ecosystem.

8/4/26 @ 6:00 a.m. 

Sea turtle nesting season is still going strong here in Nassau County, but have you ever wondered what happens after mama turtles leave our beaches?

The Sea Turtle Conservancy's Tour de Turtles officially kicked off and is following satellite-tagged sea turtles as they begin their incredible migrations across the Atlantic and Caribbean. While the featured turtles may have nested in Florida, Costa Rica, or Nevis, their journeys help scientists better understand the migration patterns, feeding grounds, and threats faced by sea turtles throughout our region, including the loggerheads that nest right here on Amelia Island.

Each turtle's journey provides valuable information that supports conservation efforts and helps protect sea turtles for generations to come.

This year's competitors are: 

• Lega-sea
• Sparky
• Pua
• Girl Power
• Sandy
• Azur
• Krysta
• Seaglass
• Fin Diesel
• Hei Hei
• Starlight.

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Which turtle are you cheering for this year? Track the race at www.tourdeturtles.org and follow along as these amazing travelers head out on their ocean adventures.

-Sabrina Robertson 
 Communications Officer

7/28/26 @ 6:00 a.m.

We're now more than halfway through the 2026 sea turtle nesting season, and it's shaping up to be one for the record books!
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If you've visited Amelia Island's beaches lately, you've probably noticed sea turtle nests marked with stakes and yellow tape stretching up and down the shoreline, a welcome sign of another successful nesting season.

Here's how this year compares:

• 2025 (at this point): 133 nests (primarily loggerheads, with some green turtles), well below the historic average.
• 2026 (as of today): 285 nests , including 280 loggerhead nests and 5 green turtle nests.

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This year's total is the second-highest on record, trailing only the remarkable 2019 season, when 301 nests were documented on Amelia Island Sea Turtle Watch beaches. Volunteers have also recorded 192 false crawls, bringing the total number of adult sea turtle tracks observed along the island's 11.5 miles of monitored Atlantic shoreline to 477.

Sea turtle nesting numbers are up across Florida this year, following a statewide decline in loggerhead nesting during 2025. Loggerhead females typically nest 4 to 6 times during a season, laying nests about every two weeks before taking one to two years off, making 2026 an especially productive "on" year.

While nesting activity is beginning to slow, hatching season is just getting started. As hatchlings emerge under the cover of darkness and make their journey to the ocean, Amelia Island Sea Turtle Watch volunteers monitor each nest. About three days after a nest has emerged, volunteers carefully excavate it to collect important data that helps researchers better understand nesting success.

The public is invited to attend many of these nest excavations and learn more about these incredible animals. Excavation schedules are posted throughout the season on the Amelia Island Sea Turtle Watch website.

And if you spot one of the organization's dedicated volunteers on the beach early in the morning wearing an Amelia Island Sea Turtle Watch shirt, don't hesitate to say hello. They're always happy to answer questions and share information about the sea turtles that make Amelia Island their summer home.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Communications Officer

7/21/26 @ 9:30 a.m.

Sea turtle nesting season continues to make waves across Florida! Preliminary statewide numbers through June 30 show encouraging news for several species:

• Loggerheads: 94,667 nests — the highest June total recorded in the past five years and on pace for a possible record season
• Leatherbacks: 2,152 nests — potentially a new statewide record if preliminary numbers hold
• Green turtles: 10,603 nests — a pleasant surprise after an expected lower nesting year
• Kemp's ridleys: 15 confirmed nests
• Olive ridleys: Florida has documented its first confirmed olive ridley nest of the 2026 season!

These preliminary totals reflect the incredible work of researchers, permit holders, volunteers, interns, and conservation partners who monitor nesting activity across Florida.

Next week, we'll share an update on how Nassau County's nesting season is progressing. Stay tuned!

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) – preliminary statewide nesting totals through June 30, 2026.

-Sabrina Robertson
​ Communications Officer

7/14/26 @ 6:00 am.

Sea turtle nesting season is underway! From May 1 through October 31, sea turtles return to Amelia Island's beaches to nest. Throughout the season, we're bringing you Turtle Talk Tuesday, where we'll share fascinating facts about our local sea turtles and highlight the incredible efforts underway to protect them.

This past Saturday, July 11, volunteers with the Amelia Island Sea Turtle Watch conducted the first nest excavation of the 2026 nesting season, and it was nearly perfect! An incredible 160 hatchlings successfully emerged from the nest three days earlier, with none left behind during the excavation. It's a wonderful reminder of why protecting nesting beaches is so important.

Today's feature takes you behind the scenes of a sea turtle nest excavation.

After a nest has completed its 50–60 day incubation period and hatchlings have emerged, trained volunteers with the Amelia Island Sea Turtle Watch carefully excavate the nest. During the excavation, they:

• Rescue and release any hatchlings that didn't make it out on their own
• Count hatched and unhatched eggs to help monitor nesting success
• Collect valuable data that supports ongoing sea turtle conservation efforts.

If you've never attended a sea turtle excavation, it's an unforgettable opportunity to witness conservation in action. Visit the Amelia Island Sea Turtle Watch website to view the excavation schedule and learn how you can experience one for yourself.

Video Credit: Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau (Video filmed during a previous excavation. While the footage is from 2021, the excavation process remains the same today.)

-Sabrina Robertson
 Communications Officer

7/7/26 @ 6:00 a.m.

Did you know that plastic pollution is one of the greatest threats facing sea turtles today? Sea turtles can mistake plastic bags for food, leading to intestinal blockages, internal injuries, and even death. Discarded fishing line, balloons, and other plastic debris can also entangle turtles, preventing them from swimming, feeding, or reaching the surface to breathe.

Organizations like Oceanic Society are working to protect marine wildlife through conservation, education, and advocacy. Their informative video, Sea Turtles – Deep Dive, explores the impacts of plastic pollution on sea turtles and highlights simple actions everyone can take to make a difference.

This Turtle Talk Tuesday, take a few minutes to learn more and consider how small changes—reducing single-use plastics, properly disposing of fishing line, and participating in local cleanups, can help protect these incredible animals for future generations.
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Watch the video and join the effort to keep our oceans clean and sea turtles safe.

-Sabrina Robertson
​ Communications Officer

6/30/26 @ 6:00 a.m.

​Sea turtle nesting season is here! From May 1st through October 31st, sea turtles come ashore on Amelia Island beaches to nest, and we all play a part in helping keep them safe.

Each Tuesday during nesting season, we’ll share facts about our local sea turtles and the simple steps we can take to protect them.

This week: Keep It Flat!
We all enjoy digging in the sand at the beach, but did you know those holes can be dangerous for both people and sea turtles?

For beachgoers, holes can be hard to see and may cause serious trips and falls. They also create obstacles for beach patrol vehicles and lifeguards, which can slow response times and put others at risk.

For sea turtles, large holes can become deadly traps. Nesting mothers and hatchlings can become stuck with no way out, and hatchlings caught after sunrise are unlikely to survive.
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So enjoy your time on the beach, but before you leave, please remember: fill in your holes and leave the sand flat for everyone’s safety.

-Sabrina Robertson
​ Communications Officer

6/16/26 @ 10:30 a.m.

Today is not only Turtle Talk Tuesday, but also World Sea Turtle Day, a global celebration dedicated to raising awareness about sea turtles and the importance of protecting them. Established in 2000, World Sea Turtle Day is observed each year on June 16 in honor of the birthday of Dr. Archie Carr, a pioneering sea turtle conservationist and founder of the Sea Turtle Conservancy.

Sea turtles have been swimming in our oceans for more than 100 million years, meaning they shared the planet with dinosaurs! Despite surviving for millions of years, sea turtles now face numerous threats, including habitat loss, marine debris, and human activity.

Here are a few fascinating sea turtle facts:
• Sea turtles can live between 50 and 100 years.
• Some sea turtles travel more than 1,000 miles to return to their nesting beaches.
• Females nest multiple times during the season, laying up to 125 eggs per nest.
• Most sea turtles nest at night, except for the Kemp's ridley, which typically nests during the day.
• Leatherback sea turtles can dive nearly 4,000 feet below the ocean's surface.
• Unlike land turtles, sea turtles cannot retreat into their shells.
• A large group of nesting sea turtles is called an "arribada," the Spanish word for "arrival."

How You Can Help Protect Sea Turtles:
• Support organizations dedicated to sea turtle conservation, such as the Amelia Island Sea Turtle Watch, which works tirelessly to monitor and protect local sea turtle nests.
• Reduce plastic waste and properly dispose of trash to keep waterways and beaches clean.
• Fill in holes and remove beach equipment before leaving the beach to make nesting easier for sea turtles.
• Turn off or shield beachfront lights during nesting season to avoid disorienting nesting females and hatchlings.
• Learn more about sea turtles and share what you know with others.
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As nesting season continues along Nassau County's beaches, remember that even small actions can make a big difference in helping protect these incredible creatures for future generations.

-Sabrina Robertson
​ Communications Officer

6/10/26 @ 8:35 a.m.

​Sea turtles are protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act and Florida’s Marine Turtle Protection Act. It is illegal to harm, harass, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, or capture any sea turtle or disturb its habitat. Under Florida law, it is also a felony to disturb, destroy, or harass a sea turtle or its nest.

Throughout sea turtle nesting season, Amelia Island Sea Turtle Watch (AISTW) and its dedicated volunteers work tirelessly to identify, monitor, and track sea turtle nests across Amelia Island. These important efforts help protect these valuable marine species and improve hatchling success. Leaving nesting sites undisturbed is critical to their protection.

As we continue tracking sea turtle nests throughout Nassau County, we encourage everyone to do their part to help protect these endangered animals. Never disturb sea turtles, their nests, or any marked nesting areas.

If you witness someone disturbing a sea turtle, harassing a nesting female, or tampering with a nest, do not intervene directly. Instead, contact the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922) or dial #FWC from your mobile phone.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Communications Officer

6/9/26 @ 6:00 a.m. - It's Turtle Talk Tuesday and today we have some interesting news to share!

Did you know researchers have documented what may be the first known olive ridley sea turtle nest in Florida? Earlier this season, researchers with Loggerhead Marinelife Center spotted a rare olive ridley sea turtle, nicknamed “Tini,” nesting on Jupiter Beach. 
Olive ridley sea turtles are one of the smallest sea turtle species and are recognized by their olive-green, heart-shaped shells. They are typically found nesting much farther south in places like Brazil and Suriname, making this discovery especially exciting for Florida researchers.

Scientists believe changing ocean conditions or shifting migration patterns may have contributed to Tini nesting along Florida’s coast. Researchers will continue monitoring the nest and hope to learn more once the eggs hatch later this season.

As sea turtle nesting season continues here in Florida, remember to do your part to help protect these incredible marine animals:

• Keep beachfront lights off at night
• Fill in holes and knock down sandcastles before leaving the beach
• Remove trash and fishing line
• Give nesting turtles and hatchlings plenty of space.

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Every small action helps protect Florida’s sea turtles for generations to come!

Source: Eric Weiss, West Palm CW, with information from the Loggerhead Marinelife Center

-Sabrina Robertson
 Communications Officer

5/26/26 @ 6:00 a.m. 
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For this week’s Turtle Talk Tuesday, we’re revisiting an important reminder about the differences between sea turtles and gopher tortoises, along with a helpful video from Coastal Connections, Inc..

Many well-meaning animal lovers confuse these species, and unfortunately, that confusion can lead to serious harm. Following recent incidents across Florida, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) continues to emphasize that gopher tortoises should never be placed in water under any circumstances. Unlike sea turtles, they cannot swim, and placing them in water, especially the ocean, can quickly become fatal.

Gopher tortoises spend the majority of their lives underground in sandy burrows, often found near coastal dune systems. These burrows maintain stable temperatures and humidity year-round, providing critical protection from extreme heat, cold, drought, and fire. They do not live in or rely on water for survival, getting hydration instead from the vegetation they eat and rainfall.
While it is uncommon, a gopher tortoise may occasionally be seen near the water’s edge. This is typically brief behavior related to temperature regulation or removing ticks. If left alone, they will move only as far as needed and return to their burrow habitat on their own. They should never be pushed, carried, or placed into water.

Sea turtles, in contrast, are fully adapted to life in the ocean. They spend most of their lives in saltwater and have long, paddle-like flippers designed for swimming and navigating currents. Their shells are more streamlined and often heart-shaped when viewed from above, allowing efficient movement through the water.

A quick way to tell the difference:

• Gopher tortoises: sturdy, elephant-like feet with distinct claws for digging; oblong shell; land-dwelling burrowers
• Sea turtles: long flippers for swimming; smooth, streamlined, heart-shaped shell; ocean-dwelling.

Because gopher tortoises are a protected species in Florida, it is illegal to handle, harass, or relocate them without a valid FWC permit. You may only assist by carefully moving a tortoise out of immediate danger, such as a roadway, and it should always be placed facing the same direction it was traveling. They should never be taken home, placed in a vehicle, or relocated to a different habitat.

If you encounter any turtle that appears injured or in distress, the best action is to contact FWC so trained professionals can respond appropriately.

Watch the Coastal Connections video here to learn more, and help us share this message to protect Florida’s native wildlife.

-Sabrina Robertson 
 Communications Officer

Nassau County officially kicked off summer on Saturday with another successful Opening of the Beaches event at Main Beach Park in Fernandina Beach. Thousands of residents and visitors spent the day enjoying live music, family-friendly activities, environmental exhibits, delicious food, and beautiful beach weather during the County’s annual celebration of community and coastal living.

The event once again partnered with the Wild Amelia Nature Festival, bringing interactive exhibits, wildlife education, and hands-on experiences focused on conservation and the unique natural beauty of Nassau County’s coastline. Attendees also had the opportunity to visit the County’s engagement tent to learn more about Vision 2050 and future planning initiatives shaping the community.

Live entertainment throughout the day kept the crowd energized, featuring performances by Brian Ernst, Laid Back, Andria Shinn and the Loyal Souls, The Honey Badgers, and headlining band The Boogie Freaks. Families also enjoyed kids activities, the Children’s Entrepreneur Market, local environmental organizations, food trucks, and beachside fun for all ages.

Nassau County extends a sincere thank you to all of the event partners, participating organizations, musicians, vendors, volunteers, and staff members who helped make this year’s event possible. Most importantly, thank you to the community for coming out, supporting the event, and helping create such a fun and welcoming atmosphere.

-Sabrina Robertson
​ Communications Officer