Biologists continue to remove sea turtle nests from Gulf Coast beaches

Biologists and sea turtle permit holders will continue to relocate sea turtle nests on Franklin, Gulf, Bay, Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa and Escambia county beaches this week.
The nests are being relocated to Florida’s east coast to ensure the sea turtle hatchlings do not encounter oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Nest excavations have been occurring on Northwest Florida and Alabama Gulf coasts this past month and will continue throughout the summer.
The action is being undertaken to protect the sea turtle hatchlings from the large amounts of oil from the long-running Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The currents that determine where these young sea turtles go are the same currents that determine where the floating oil goes, which would constantly bring the young turtles to the floating oil.
The sea turtle eggs are moved once they have incubated at least 47-49 days which gives them the best chance of survival.
About 700 sea turtle nests will be moved this summer, and each nest typically contains between 100-120 eggs.



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