From May 1st to October 31st, Marco Island beaches turn into a very important habitat for female loggerhead sea turtles. According to FWC, “the loggerhead sea turtle is the most common sea turtle found in Florida; adults can weigh between 200-350 pounds and females return to their nesting beach every two years or more to lay an average of 4.1 clutches and each nest contains an average of 114 eggs.”
Historical Trends in Sea Turtle Protection
In 1994, the Collier County Sea Turtle Protection Program started surveying Marco’s beach for sea turtle activities. Starting May 1, Collier County sea turtle monitors perform daily checks on nests and false crawl activity along the high-water line using ATVs. A GPS reading is taken for each location that is numbered and mapped on aerial photographs, and characteristics and measurements are recorded for evaluations. Nests are then marked with wooden stakes. A yellow ribbon with the word “caution” is placed around the stakes, and a Sea Turtle Nest sign is added to alert the public away from the nest. Their daily patrol encompasses 7.1 miles of beach from inside Big Marco Pass south to Caxambas Pass and inside Hideaway Beach.
A sea turtle monitor riding his ATV returns from morning patrol of the north end of Sand Dollar Island.
In 2013, the City Council adopted an Ordinance 13-05 to protect the endangered Sea Turtles by safeguarding sea turtles from artificial lights from beach-facing structures.
In 2022, Ordinance 13-05 was amended to include improved lighting technology for all new and existing structures facing the beach, as well as outdoor lighting, special events taking place on or adjacent to the beach, beach furniture, and beach raking. Lights out are from 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM to prevent disorientation of nesting sea turtles and their hatchling!
On April 20, 2026, a new amendment to Ordinance 13-05 was proposed to further protect sea turtles during nesting season. The proposed minor revisions will help reinforce these protections. The proposed language is as follows: “fishing at night on the beach during sea turtle season in a manner that may harass, disorient, or cause injury to sea turtles and their hatchlings, shall be prohibited between 9:00 PM and before 9:00 AM or prior to the completion of daily monitoring for sea turtle nesting activity by FWC authorized marine turtle permit holder, whichever comes first.” The timeframe is pegged to the Sea Turtle Lighting Ordinance on Lights Out by 9:00 PM during sea turtle season.
A Marco Island Code Enforcement Flyer lists Sea Turtle Rules. If you see a violation, call Marco Island Code Enforcement at 239-389-5060.
This stretch of berm is 4 feet high by DRN Marker 131 and is about 40-50 feet wide at the top.
A letter from FWC’s legal counsel, Christopher Torres, was received by City Council on April 20, 2026, and in part stated, “The Commission recognizes the City’s intent to provide additional protections to sea turtles during nesting season and we appreciate the City’s interest in the conservation of sea turtles.” FWC was concerned that the proposed amendment might interfere with the authority of FWC in regulating the “taking, attempt to take, or possession of saltwater fish.”
The Chamber of Commerce has written to the City Council in support of the additional conservation measures for the Sea Turtles during nesting season. The Marco Island Civic Association (MICA) also sent a letter of support on behalf of the 20,000 MICA members.
Challenges to sea turtle nesting on Sand Dollar Island (Big Marco Pass CWA)
From 2024-2025, there was berm repair and maintenance on Sand Dollar Island. The height of the berm varied between three and five feet and helped create a 25-30% increase in false crawls for nesting loggerheads. A 2026 berm repair and maintenance project was completed in mid-February 2026, and only time will tell how the sea turtles are going to respond to the sand condition and varied height of the berm.
Disturbing False Crawl Trend for Sea Turtles in Marco Island
Using data collected by the Sea Turtle Protection Program from 2015 to 2022, Marco Island had a yearly average of 173 false crawls. In the last three years (2023, 2024, 2025), the yearly average of false crawls increased to 322. This is an 86% increase in false crawls. According to the 2024 Collier County Sea Turtle Annual Report, the increase in crawls includes but is not limited to beach compaction, artificial lighting, human activity, escarpments, and obstacles left on the beach.