Seaweed Piles Threaten Sea Turtle Hatchlings

Every summer, sea turtles hatch on Florida’s beaches and race toward the ocean, but a new study from Florida Atlantic researchers shows that growing piles of sargassum seaweed are turning that journey into an even tougher challenge.

Researchers monitored leatherback, loggerhead and green turtle hatchlings on beaches in Juno Beach, Jupiter and Boca Raton. They found that all three species took much longer to crawl when seaweed was present, sometimes more than double the time. Some hatchlings couldn’t make it over the piles at all, often flipping onto their backs and getting stranded.

“The longer a hatchling stays on the beach, the more at risk it becomes – not just from predators like birds and crabs, but also from overheating and dehydration, especially after sunrise,” said Sarah Milton, Ph.D., senior author and professor in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science.

While blood tests showed no immediate energy loss from the extra effort, researchers warn that delays caused by sargassum increase the chance of death, she said. With seaweed mounds now reaching over a meter high, the study highlights the need for better beach management to protect hatchlings and support conservation goals.

Read the press release.