Just Keep Swimming

The First Sea Turtle Nests of 2024 Have Arrived

The first documented nest was laid by a loggerhead sea turtle, a threatened species protected under federal law.

04/29/2024 By Staff

Turtle Power

Mote Marine Laboratory Releases Clarice, a Rehabilitated Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Some good news for Monday.

03/18/2024 By Staff

Heroes in a Half Shell

Mote Reports Record-Breaking 2023 Sea Turtle Nesting Season

This year’s total is the fifth highest overall since Mote's Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program program began 42 years ago.

11/06/2023 By Staff

Turtle Power

Mote Establishes Voluntary Sea Turtle Protection Zone in Sarasota County

The zone stretches from Longboat Key to Siesta Key, including Sarasota Bay, and extends from the shore to 1.5 miles offshore.

07/07/2023 By Staff

Heroes in a Half Shell

Mote Releases Two Rehabilitated Sea Turtles

Lilly and Farmer recovered from red tide toxins at Mote's Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital.

05/16/2023 By Staff

Nesting Season

Sea Turtle Nesting Is Here

Residents are urged to keep light out of sight and remove unused beach furniture and coastal structures to help sea turtle hatchlings survive.

05/02/2023 By Staff

Turtle Tragedy

How to Help Keep Sea Turtles Safe This Summer

A sea turtle that was hit by a boat recently washed up on Siesta Key. Mote Marine Lab offers tips for how to keep the animals safe.

06/16/2021 By Emma Lichtenstein

Turtle Power

Sea Turtles Arrive in Sarasota on Earth Day

The first nest of the 2021 season was reported just north of the public Venice Beach area.

04/22/2021 By Staff

Wildlife

Mote Releases Recovered Sea Turtle on Longboat Key

Connor, who was brought to Mote's Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital in September, was released into the Gulf of Mexico with a satellite tag this morning.

01/13/2021 By Megan McDonald

Rescue Mission

Mote Caring for Six Cold-Stunned Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles

The six turtles in Mote's care have been nicknamed Art, Blue Spruce, Fraser, Douglas, Canaan and Noble.

11/23/2020 By Staff

Safe Space

The Turtle Safe Toy Box Offers a Place for Unwanted Beach Toys

Don’t want that broken pail and shovel? Caleb Jameson has a solution.

08/17/2020 By Allison Forsyth and Sarafina Murphy-Gibson

Turtle Power

Mote Releases Two Sea Turtles

Hookee and Joyce had been recovering at Mote's Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital.

07/09/2020 By Staff

Turtle Power

First Sea Turtle Nest of the Season Reported on Siesta Key

Now in its 39th year, all sea turtle monitoring is conducted with permission from local government to allow access to closed beaches.

04/20/2020 By Staff

🐢🐢🐢

It's Sea Turtle Nesting Season Again

The sea turtle beach patrols are already walking the beaches. Lucky them!

04/15/2020 Edited by Susan Burns

Good News

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium Releases Loggerhead Turtle Into the Ocean

Chipi the turtle previously showed lethargy and neurologic issues likely due to red tide exposure.

03/26/2020 By Staff

Last Straw

What You Need to Know About Sarasota’s City Ordinance Banning Plastic Straws and Polystyrene

Sidewalk café businesses must begin following the ordinance on Jan. 1, 2020; for those who hold special event permits the ban begins on Aug. 19, 2020; and for those who lease city-owned land on the date their lease renews.

10/01/2019 By Megan McDonald