2014 Was A Good Year For Nesting Sea Turtles

TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) — 2014 was a good year for turtle nesting across the Sunshine State.

The number of loggerhead turtle nests remained high and the number of leatherback turtle nests reached a record, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Researchers surveyed more than 800 miles of Florida beaches for two reports that document the number of nests and nesting trends.

Officials said the number of green turtle nests dropped this year compared to 2013, but they say the drop was expected due to cyclical fluctuations in nesting patterns for that species. Overall, green turtle nesting trends have shown an exponential increase over the last 26 years.

Commission researcher Simona Ceriana says the nesting season tallies are encouraging for the future of these endangered species.

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