| Sarasota County has the
highest density of loggerhead sea turtle nests on the west coast
of Florida. With sea turtle populations declining worldwide due to
beach development, commercial fishing and other human-related
causes, protecting sea turtles and their habitat is crucial to
their survival. Five species of sea turtles inhabit the Gulf of
Mexico: loggerhead, green, hawksbill, leatherback and Kemp's
Ridley. Loggerhead turtles, which are listed as threatened, nest
here in large numbers, while only a few endangered green turtles
nest here each year.
The mission of Mote Marine Laboratory's
Sea Turtle Conservation & Research Program is to monitor sea
turtle activity, to learn more about the biology and behavior of
these species, and to help reduce the impacts of human activity.
Program personnel (staff, interns and volunteers) gather
information that is used to track the status of sea turtles in
Florida as part of a statewide cooperative effort to conserve sea
turtles.
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