Each summer, April to September, Florida beaches host the largest gathering of nesting sea turtles in the U.S. Sea turtles once roamed the oceans by the millions but over the past few centuries, the demand for sea turtle meat, eggs, shell, leather and oil and loss of habitat due to urban development along the coasts have greatly reduced their numbers.

This summer you can help save these sea creatures by participating in turtle releases during the height of the hatching season. Since 1980, more than 537,134 endangered sea turtles have been hatched and released through the Miami-Dade Parks Sea Turtle Nesting and Relocation Program.

For more information and reservations for special slide presentations and lectures, call Miami-Dade Parks Beach Operations at 305-947-3525 or 305-361-6767.

Sea Turtle Hatchling Release
9-10 p.m. $5.00. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Journey into the world of sea turtles. Learn of their behavior and help new hatchlings reach the sea. To participate, call Selina Mills at 305-947-3525. Haulover Beach Park, 10800 Collins Ave., Miami Beach.

8:30-10 p.m. $5.00. Fridays and Saturdays. To participate call 305-361-6767.  Crandon Park Visitors’ and Nature Center, 6767Crandon Blvd., Key Biscayne.

Please make reservations in the beginning of July for presentations and releases in July, August and September.

History of the Program
After the completion of a comprehensive beach re-nourishment project 30 years ago, the Miami-Dade Park and Recreation Department instituted a new program to encourage the nesting of the loggerhead, green and leatherback turtles, three species which had not reproduced successfully on our beaches for decades. Under the close supervision of Miami-Dade Parks' Beach Operations staff, which runs the Turtle Program, the nesting rate has gone from 0 nest sites in 1979 to 363 in 2003.

The Sea Turtle Nesting and Relocation Program released over 41,000 new baby loggerhead, green and leatherback turtles, in 1998, making this one of the most efficient conservation efforts of its kind in Florida. This achievement is a victory over egg poaching by humans and animals, destruction of native habitat, and the constant disturbance of bright night lights which disorient the hatchlings and draw them to populated street areas, where they soon perish.

What We Do
The Sea Turtle Nesting and Relocation Program supervises all nesting activity along almost 20 miles of Atlantic beachfront, from beaches on Key Biscayne to Golden Beach, where there are nesting areas favored by these ancient creatures. Once the nests have been identified and determined if they should be left in their natural state (in situ), the eggs are carefully relocated to a safe hatchery system, as close to their natural environment as possible. When they mature to hatching stage, the baby turtles are released during night time hours. There they can traverse their way to welcoming ocean waters, without the interference of artificial light, or preying humans and animals.

August and September Program Presentations

• Haulover Beach Night Presentation & Hatchling Release, Selina Mills, (305) 947-3525 ext. 0
• Crandon Park Presentation and Hatchery Release, Staff at Crandon Park Visitors’ and Nature Center, 305-361-6767

Did You Know?

• Sea turtles are on the brink of extinction.
• Only 1 out of 1000 hatchlings will reach maturity.
• Sea turtles have been around since the dinosaur, 60 million years.
• Sea turtles deposit between 80-180 eggs in their nests.
• Turtles will return to the beach were they laid to deposit their eggs, year after year.
• Since 1980, Miami-Dade Parks has hatched and released approximately 537,134 endangered sea turtles.
  It's illegal to buy products made from sea turtles or any other endangered species.
• Miami-Dade Parks offers morning and evening turtle presentations.

You Can Help

• Participate in Miami-Dade Parks Sea Turtle Program.
• Never approach turtles emerging from the sea or disturb or harass nesting turtles.
• Watch out for disoriented hatchlings or turtles wandering on the road.
• Be careful while boating to avoid collision with turtles.
• When on or near the beach, keep outside lights off or minimized from May 1 - October 31.