Conservation & Research

All You Need to Know About Sea Turtle Nesting Season

Sea turtle nesting season extends from May 1 through Oct. 31. Beginning April 15, Clearwater Marine Aquarium patrols approximately 21 miles of beach along North Pinellas County.

How are sea turtle nests located?

Our morning patrols reach the beach just before sunrise 7 days a week. Initially, our teams of volunteers, staff and interns search along the high tide line for evidence of sea turtle nesting, namely marks in the sand left by crawling females. Once tracks are located, we determine whether there is a nest present or if it was a non-nesting emergence, AKA false crawl. We mark the nests and collect various measurements from the nest site in order to properly monitor it throughout the season.

How are sea turtle nests monitored?

We primarily observe loggerhead sea turtle nesting activity in Pinellas County. Loggerhead incubation time is about two months.. Hatching activity is identified by tracks emerging from the nest sites. After a nest has hatched we wait at least 72 hours then excavate the nest and do an inventory of its contents to determine hatching success. 

When are sea turtle nests found?

Generally, we find our first nest of the season in early to mid-May and the females will continue nesting until the middle of August.

What kind of sea turtle nests are found?

Primarily, we encounter loggerheads nesting on our beaches but on rare occasions have encountered Kemp’s ridleys or green sea turtles.

What does the sea turtle nesting team report?

We report our annual nesting data to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Pinellas County. To FWC, we report nests, false crawls, disorientation events, obstruction events, predation and vandalism. To the county, we also include weekly escarpment surveys and lighting surveys.

How many nests were reported during the 2023 nesting season?

In 2023, 227 nests were observed.

Dolphin Dorsal Fin Photo Indentification

Clearwater Marine Aquarium initiated the dolphin dorsal fin photo identification study in August 2013 to document the ecology of the bottlenose dolphin population of Clearwater Bay and Clearwater Harbor. Opportunistic photos of bottlenose dolphins are taken during CMA’s Dolphin Adventure eco-boat tour using National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Dolphin SMART guidelines.

Like a human fingerprint, no two dorsal fins are exactly the same. Each dorsal fin has its own unique shape, height, thickness, markings and notches. Also, a dolphin’s dorsal fin acquires various scars and markings during the dolphin’s lifetime. Because of their unique nature, pictures of dorsal fins are used to identify wild dolphins. Individual identification of members during photo identification studies assist with the attainment of information on group structure, site fidelity, movement patterns and population size.

With the receipt of a General Authorization for Scientific Research permit from NOAA, CMA expanded its wild dolphin dorsal identification research program in August of 2016. The Research Team currently surveys the intracoastal waters and three miles out in the Gulf of Mexico for three counties (Pinellas, Pasco, and a portion of Hernando). Future plans include expanding the survey area further out into the Gulf of Mexico.

To date, our field biologists have identified and cataloged more than 126 dolphins using pictures taken of their dorsal fins.

Rescue Team Dolphin ID Data

The Rescue Team also continues to contribute to the mark-recapture research study conducted by Dr. Ann Weaver and Mote Marine Laboratory by sharing photographs taken of stranded dolphins’ dorsal fins and flukes.

Research conducted and photographs collected under the NMFS Scientific Research Permit No. 19749.

Sea Turtle Tracking

Satellite tracking is beneficial for research purposes including the migration of sea turtles, their foraging behavior and much more. You can learn about some of the sea turtles Clearwater Marine Aquarium has released with a satellite tag and view their tracking maps below.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium is involved in a number of different research projects.

From studying right whales in the Atlantic to studying manatees in Crystal River, Clearwater Marine Aquarium has devoted many hours to field research with a goal of marine animal conservation in mind. In addition to this, CMA also spends time educating children and adults through outreach projects. Visit our Research Institute to learn more. 

Research Mission

Clearwater Marine Aquarium works to protect and conserve our world’s fragile coastal ecosystems and the endangered species that call them home. We focus on the conservation of flagship species, such as manatees, sea turtles, and right whales, to ensure greater protection for the species themselves and for the sensitive habitats these animals rely on around the world.

CMA biologists and ecologists combine passion for their work with technical expertise to conduct rigorous scientific research, share their knowledge with managers to ensure adequate protection for endangered species, educate the public and conserve our coastal environments for the benefit of both people and animals.

Expanding Research Efforts

The world-renowned research organization, Sea to Shore Alliance is now a part of CMA! Sea to Shore has made critical advancements in their work with manatees, right whales and sea turtles. This important work will continue and expand as part of CMA’s research efforts.

Healthy Habitats and Oceans (H2O)

Our scientists have witnessed the impacts of marine debris during our decades of work in the southeastern United States and the Caribbean. Shorelines and waterways strewed with litter and abandoned fishing gear lead to the deaths of sea turtles, manatees, dolphins, and North Atlantic right whales. Marine debris consists primarily of plastics and has been increasing dramatically.  

Since much of this is preventable, CMA Research Institute launched H2O: Healthy Habitats & Oceans, an educational outreach and direct-action program targeting those audiences with the power to prevent and reduce marine debris: students, the fishing, and boating community, and the public. To reach this audience, the program utilized a mobile marine classroom (a vehicle outfitted with interactive educational exhibits) to conduct visits to middle and high schools and coastal community festivals. We also sponsor beach cleanups every month at Boynton Inlet in Palm Beach County. 

Since our mobile classroom is currently out of commission, we now offer new, free virtual learning experiences for anyone interested. Our goal is to inspire change in personal habits and reduce the amount of single-use plastics we use as a society.  

A Founding Member of Ocean Allies

CMA is proud to be a founding member of Ocean Allies.   

The Ocean Allies project is a conservation plan designed to transform Clearwater Beach, home town of Winter the Dolphin, into the #1 recognized ocean-friendly beach in the world, and then take the project global. As tourists increasingly desire to travel to areas that promote environmental responsibility, the Ocean Allies leadership team will oversee the effort to engage Clearwater Beach and greater Clearwater businesses to develop and implement an eco-friendly Clearwater Beach brand, with a goal of improving the health of our oceans and beaches. Participating organizations will become “Ocean Allies” certified. Clearwater Beach is globally known and was named the best beach in the U.S. by TripAdvisor in 2018 and 2016, with gorgeous blue waters and white “sugar” sand.