University of Florida Study finds that clean beaches increase turtle nesting

A new study from the University of Florida shows something that most people would consider common sense, that removing beach debris helps sea turtles nest.

The study found that clearing the beach of trash and other barriers increased the number of nests by as much as 200 percent, while leaving the items on the beach decreased the number of nests by nearly 50 percent.

From 2011 through 2014, University of Florida researchers conducted an experiment along the Gulf Coast near Eglin Air Force Base to understand the effects of large debris on sea turtle nesting activities.

The study area has one of the highest nesting densities of loggerhead sea turtles in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

The debris in the area were both natural, such as fallen trees and stumps, and man-made, including concrete, pipes and metal fencing that remained on the beach after old military structures were demolished.

After researchers got rid of debris, sea turtle nest numbers increased 200 percent, and the number of false crawls increased 55 percent, the study showed.

In beach sections where debris was not removed, the number of nests declined by 46 percent.

Franklin County has its own “Leave no Trace” law in effect to help protect nesting sea turtles.

The Leave no trace ordinance bans people from leaving items like tents and beach chairs on public beaches on St. George Island overnight; items that are left out can be confiscated and destroyed at the landfill.

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