Endangered and threatened sea turtles are nesting in strong numbers along Brevard County beaches in 2026, according to officials tracking the population. Loggerhead turtles, in particular, are experiencing one of their highest nesting years on record, with estimates suggesting they may rank among the top three years since monitoring began. Mike McGarry, Brevard’s beach renourishment coordinator, said the increase is partly due to decades of sand-dredging projects that have expanded nesting areas. "They seem unlikely to set a record, but may make the top three years on record," McGarry wrote in an email. "Green turtles typically have alternating high/low years. This (2026) was expected to be a low year, and it is, but it is a strong year of nesting for a low year." Beach renourishment projects, which involve pumping sand onto eroded shorelines, have created more space for turtles to lay eggs. Conservationists say this expansion has helped rebound populations after years of decline. However, hotter sand temperatures are raising concerns. Research shows that warmer sands skew hatchling gender ratios, producing mostly female turtles. The temperature of the sand determines a sea turtle’s sex, with higher temps leading to more females. Scientists warn this could reduce genetic diversity over time. Despite the nesting success, survival rates remain grim. Only about one in 1,000 to one in 10,000 hatchlings survive to adulthood, due to predators, pollution, and habitat loss. Conservationists say the current nesting boom is a sign of progress but caution that climate change and rising temperatures pose ongoing threats. "Sea turtles are doing much better than two decades ago," McGarry said. "But many reasons for concern remain."