The Palm Beaches – The Sea Turtle Capital of Florida™

The Palm Beaches lead the state in sea turtle nesting, conservation, and responsible coastal tourism.

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Mar. 2, 2026 – Discover The Palm Beaches (DTPB), the tourism marketing organization for Palm Beach County, announced the destination has received designation as the Sea Turtle Capital of Florida™, highlighting leadership in sea turtle nesting, conservation, and responsible coastal tourism.

From March through October each year, The Palm Beaches’ 47-mile coastline becomes one of the most significant sea turtle nesting habitats in the world. With more loggerhead sea turtle nests per mile than anywhere else in the United States, the destination’s beaches support approximately 2 million hatchlings annually.

The coastline offers ideal nesting conditions for several sea turtle species, including loggerhead, green, and leatherback turtles. Its eastward-jutting shoreline and proximity to the Gulf Stream create a warm, protected corridor that draws turtles to nest here year after year, with many spending their lives in nearby waters.

As the Sea Turtle Capital of Florida, The Palm Beaches invite visitors and residents to experience the conservation, care, and consideration provided for its bountiful marine residents. Visitors and locals alike can take part in several meaningful ways throughout the destination:

• Visit Loggerhead Marinelife Center – named the No. 1 ‘Best Free Attraction’ in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for 2024 and 2025 – for an up-close look at sea turtles in rehabilitation and how they are cared for before returning to the ocean.
• Join a guided nighttime turtle walk or seasonal hatchling release through Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, and Loggerhead Marinelife Center for a rare glimpse of nesting season in action. In addition, Gumbo Limbo’s Resident Sea Turtle Talks occur daily at 1 p.m., giving visitors the opportunity to meet the resident sea turtles on site, whose injuries prevent them from ever returning to the ocean.
• Participate in one of five free sea turtle walks hosted by Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management in Jupiter this June – the only free turtle walks in The Palm Beaches. Follow @pbcerm on social media to see upcoming walk dates.
• Watch episodes about sea turtle conservation on The Palm Beaches TV, including A Wild Connection and a feature on Loggerhead Marinelife Center.
• Support nesting turtles by keeping beaches flat, dark, and calm at night and following local beach and boating guidance throughout the season.
• Learn more about sea turtle nesting season in The Palm Beaches at ThePalmBeaches.com/Sea-Turtle-Capital.

“Sea turtles are an integral part of our identity and environmental legacy in The Palm Beaches,” said Milton Segarra, CDME, president and CEO of DTPB. “The Sea Turtle Capital™ designation highlights the importance of our nesting beaches and our responsibility to protect them. We invite visitors to experience our beaches responsibly so these habitats can be preserved for generations to come.”

Local conservation partners work year-round to monitor nests, protect hatchlings, and educate the public on how to minimize human impact during nesting season. The Palm Beaches have extensive sea turtle protections, including beach patrols, lighting regulations, boating guidance, oversight of beach furniture, and legal prohibitions against disturbing nests and hatchlings.

“Palm Beach County’s beaches are among the most important sea turtle nesting habitats in the United States,” said Deb Drum, director of Palm Beach County’s Environmental Resources Management Department (PBCERM). “Decades of collaboration between conservation organizations, local government, and the community have made this region a model for sea turtle protection. Public awareness and responsible beach behavior play a vital role in ensuring sea turtles continue to thrive along our coast.”

About Discover The Palm Beaches

Discover The Palm Beaches is the tourism marketing organization for the collection of 39 cities and towns known as The Palm Beaches in Southeast Florida, stretching from Boca Raton to Jupiter. Tasked with growing visitation and the local tourism economy, the organization works year-round to bring travelers to Palm Beach County. The Palm Beaches have a rich history as America’s First Resort Destination®, where genuine hospitality is a way of life among a vibrant and welcoming blend of people, cultures, and coastal towns. Tourism is among the county’s major industries, generating an annual economic impact of approximately $11.7 billion and supporting approximately 95,000 local jobs. For more information about The Palm Beaches, visit www.ThePalmBeaches.com or follow on social media on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, X, Threads, Pinterest and LinkedIn.