Brevard County is experiencing a record-breaking sea turtle nesting season, with more than 12,000 green sea turtle nests counted at Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge as of August 20, 2026. The refuge in South Melbourne Beach also reported over 4,100 loggerhead nests, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. These numbers mark a significant increase compared to previous years, with some areas along the Space Coast seeing more than 1,000 nests per mile of beach.
The Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge is home to a quarter of all green sea turtle nests in the United States. Stacey Cooper, a visitor from Georgia who has lived in Palm Bay for nearly 30 years, said she’s impressed by the conservation efforts in Florida. "I’ve been to the sanctuary in Jekyll Island before, and it’s really neat that Florida is taking an interest in that as well," Cooper said during a visit to the refuge. She noted the contrast between the nesting activity she saw in Georgia and the protected environment in Brevard County.
Conservation teams continue to monitor nests along the Space Coast through October 31. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently updated regulations under the Endangered Species Act, reclassifying some threatened species as endangered. Marine biologists are closely observing whether this change will impact local sea turtle populations. "We’re tracking everything from nest success rates to hatchling survival," said a spokesperson for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "The data will help us understand how these changes might affect the turtles."
The nesting season has drawn attention from residents and visitors alike. At Archie Carr, volunteers and researchers work to protect nests from predators and human interference. The refuge’s densest nesting areas include stretches of beach in South Melbourne Beach and the surrounding communities. With the season still ongoing, officials say they’re hopeful the current numbers will remain high through the end of October.