Record Year for UCF Marine Turtle Research Group

Green sea turtles have had their highs and their lows. Before being commercially harvested for hundreds of years, green sea turtles used to be a typical sight in the Atlantic, but now they are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in multiple locations across the globe. Even with being one of the first species to have federal regulations protecting them, green sea turtle populations still declined.

As of recently, green sea turtles numbers have been greatly expanding. Below Cape Canaveral, in the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, they are having record numbers this year. The University of Central Florida’s Marine Turtle Research Group has researchers and students working and monitoring green sea turtles nests and as of September 17th, the group counted 12,804 nests in the 13 miles refuge beaches. That’s the first time the number has topped 12,000, said Kate Mansfield, who leads the group.

To read the original story click here.

To watch the video click here.