Five of the Canaveral's federally listed endangered or threatened species are marine turtles.
Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) Threatened
Green (Chelonia mydas) Threatened
Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) Endangered
Kemp’s Ridley (Lepiochelys kempii) Endangered
Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) Endangered
The Loggerhead and Green turtles are most prevalent, while the Leatherback is found consistently, but in much lower numbers. Kemp’s Ridley and Hawsbill Turtles have been documented, though rarely, on Canaveral National Seashore's beaches.
Canaveral National Seashore has been recording sea turtle nesting on park beaches since 1985. Sea turtles are observed nesting in the park from April through October. The nesting season for the Leatherback is generally between April and June, the earliest and shortest nesting season. Loggerheads are primarily observed nesting in the park from May through August, while Greens are recorded slightly later, from June through September. As in the past three years, Green sea turtle nesting extended into October in 2013. The peak of the nesting season generally occurs between late June and early July when over 100 nests may be deposited on Canaveral National Seashore’s beaches each night.
Sea Turtle Nest Totals 1984 - 2022
Year
Loggerhead
Green
Leatherback
Kemp's
Unknown
Total
2022
6,188
6,331
27
1
0
12,547
2021
3,708
4,303
31
2
0
8,044
2020
4,187
367
26
5
0
7,888
2019
5,646
7,629
33
0
0
13,308
2018
4,223
301
15
0
0
4,539
2017
4,556
7,736
23
0
0
12,315
2016
5,057
381
9
0
0
5,437
2015
3,905
3,571
34
0
0
7,510
2014
3,322
420
20
0
0
3,767
2013
3,758
4,152
23
0
0
5,140
2012
5,154
816
27
1
0
5,998
2011
3,742
1,374
24
0
0
5,140
2010
4,250
1,343
26
0
0
5,619
2009
2,729
301
26
0
0
3,056
2008
3,637
899
5
2
0
4,543
2007
2,356
1,249
21
0
0
3,627
2006
2,470
396
1
1
0
2,868
2005
2,547
1,040
13
0
0
3,600
2004
2,281
255
6
0
0
2,542
2003
3,229
74
16
1
0
3,320
2002
3,161
856
8
0
0
4,025
2001
3,257
7
10
0
0
3,274
2000
3,892
662
9
0
0
4,563
1999
4,501
5
9
0
0
4,515
1998
3,976
427
5
0
0
4,408
1997
2,702
21
4
0
0
2,727
1996
3,260
222
3
0
0
3,485
1995
4,121
47
1
0
0
4,169
1994
3,886
364
2
0
0
4,252
1993
3,140
28
0
0
0
3,168
1992
3,279
298
0
0
0
3,577
1991
4,074
25
1
0
0
4,100
1990
3,922
185
1
0
0
4,108
1989
3,091
41
1
0
0
3,133
1988
2,203
43
0
0
4
2,250
1987
1,670
90
1
0
15
1,776
1986
3,349
22
3
0
0
3,374
1985
2,389
94
0
0
25
2,508
1984
*
*
*
*
*
2,125
* Individual breakdown not available
Taken from yearly Sea Turtle Nesting Summaries, 1984-2022 Canaveral National Seashore, Titusville, Florida
The State of Florida manages sea turtle nests throughout the state by collecting annual data on participating beaches. Canaveral National Seashore participates in both an Index Nesting Beach Survey (INBS) and the Statewide Nesting Beach Survey (SNBS). For more information on these programs visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
