Loggerhead sea turtle nests break 40-year record on Anna Maria Island

While many beachgoers enjoy the summer heat and waves, thousands of sea turtle eggs lie nestled just beneath the sand.

Thanks to dedicated conservation efforts, Anna Maria Island is now home to over 560 sea turtle nests.

“We broke our 40-year-old record. Since we started monitoring in 1983, we've never exceeded 543 loggerhead nests,” said Kristen Mazzarella, director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch.

Mazzarella anticipates even more turtle nests in the coming weeks.

“This is great news for the turtle population,” Mazzarella added. “It shows that their numbers are growing and our conservation efforts are successful.”