Every year starting in April, something big begins to unfold on the beaches of Key Biscayne. As the weather warms, sea turtles begin returning to the very shores where they were born to lay their eggs. Almost all sea turtles nesting on Florida’s beaches are loggerheads, and each female can lay around 100 eggs per nest. These turtles can live up to 70 or 80 years, but their survival is far from guaranteed.
While living in Key Biscayne might sound like it comes with frequent beach days, that’s not always the case for residents. “Just because I live in the Key doesn’t mean I go to the beach often,” said freshman Jaclyn Gasso. “I’m really busy with other extracurriculars and I’m not able to find the time… but it is a very pretty place to go to, and I wish I could find more time to go to the beach.” Still, she recognizes the importance of protecting sea turtles when she does visit. “Whenever I do go to the beach, I make sure to watch out for the sea turtles and not to step on their nests.”
Other locals have had closer encounters with the turtles or their nests. “Yes, I have spotted a small sea turtle while on Key Biscayne beach and in the surrounding water,” said freshman Adriana Innocente. “It was during spring going into summer.” She also recalled seeing a turtle nest: “It was around the summertime. It was covered up by a net and there was a sign, so I’m guessing it was well protected.”
Nesting season in Key Biscayne typically runs from May through October. During this period, the beaches especially those in Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park become big nesting grounds in South Florida. The park sees an average of 90 to 100 nests each season, and its “natural dark beaches” are kept off-limits to visitors between sunset and sunrise to provide a safe, undisturbed environment for nesting turtles.
Despite these protections, threats remain, particularly from artificial lighting. “Yes, beach lighting from homes does affect sea turtles,” said freshman Daniela Ajuz. “Hatchling turtles instinctively move toward the brightest horizon, which is supposed to be the moonlight reflecting on the ocean. Artificial lighting, street lamps and more can confuse them, I’m assuming.”
Freshman Amaury Velez agreed, emphasizing the dangers of light pollution. “I think the biggest threat to sea turtles is the light pollution because since baby turtles head toward the light when they are born, they sometimes walk to the buildings instead of the ocean where they’re supposed to go.”
Sea turtles are endangered and are protected under federal, state, and local laws. They face numerous threats, including light pollution, boat traffic, plastic waste, fishing gear, and beach development. Still, many locals believe that more can be done. “I think the Village of Key Biscayne is trying to protect sea turtles,” said freshman Constanza Cazorla. “But I think they could do more. They should reduce light pollution, increase beach patrols, and educate more people on keeping the beaches clean.”
One of the community’s most active efforts is the Friends of Cape Florida’s “Adopt-A-Nest” program, which raises funds for equipment, turtle surveys, and other protective measures. Volunteers and park rangers receive special training to monitor turtle activity throughout the season, including daily counts of new crawls and nests.
Education also plays an important role. “I think the biggest misconception people have about sea turtles is that they can retract their flippers and their heads into their shells,” said Amaury. “But in reality, they can’t, since they’ve adapted to their aquatic life.”
Constanza added that if she could tell a tourist one thing about sea turtles, it would be: “Sea turtles are endangered, and keeping beaches dark and clean helps them survive.”
As nesting season continues into the fall, both residents and visitors have a role to play in protecting one of Key Biscayne’s most ancient and fragile neighbors. Sometimes, that protection starts with a simple act: turning off a light, avoiding the beach at night, or ensuring no trash is left behind. For the turtles, those small actions can make all the difference.