"Slices of 30A"

How South Walton Stays in the Loop on Sea Turtle Nesting

When the sun rises over South Walton’s sugar-white sand, the beach is still quiet—except for the South Walton Turtle Watch (SWTW) teams. Long before most of us pour our first cup of coffee, these volunteers are already combing the shoreline, looking for signs of one of Florida’s most treasured visitors: nesting sea turtles.

Their mission each morning is twofold—protect the turtles and communicate with the people who rely on the beach for their livelihood or who want to experience this natural wonder. Thanks to new alert systems and community programs, both beach vendors and the general public can now stay informed in real time.

For Beach Vendors: A Green Light to Set Up

During nesting season, Walton County Ordinance 2019-05 requires vendors to wait until after 7:30 a.m.—or until SWTW has finished its morning survey—before setting up equipment. Now, vendors don’t have to guess.

Through the SWTW Beach Access Alert System, vendors get a quick text or email as soon as their section of beach is cleared. The coastline is divided into 18 zones, each with its own alert code, like SWTWG10 for Grayton Beach. Once a section is safe, the system sends out a notification so vendors can set up without disturbing nests or hatchlings.

Even if a nest is found, SWTW marks it with flags and clears the surrounding area whenever possible. Weather delays, active hatchlings, or ongoing inspections may hold things up, but the alerts keep vendors in the loop so mornings run smoothly.

For the Public: Witnessing a Sea Turtle Hatch

While vendors get setup alerts, the public can also take part in the magic of nesting season. Though exact hatch times can be unpredictable, there are a few ways to get notified or involved:

• Follow Local Turtle Watch Updates
  SWTW and similar organizations post regular updates about nest activity on their websites and social media. While they can’t promise you’ll catch a hatchling moment, these updates help you know when nests are nearing the hatching window.

• Join Permitted Turtle Walks & Hatchling Releases
  Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) permits certain organizations to lead guided turtle walks or public hatchling releases. These are scheduled in advance, and you can sign up online to join.

• Volunteer for Nest Monitoring
  Groups like SWTW train volunteers to help with early morning surveys, record keeping, and nest protection. Once trained, volunteers sometimes witness nests hatch as part of their patrols.

Sea turtle nesting season is more than just a seasonal highlight—it’s a vital period for an endangered species. Quick, reliable communication helps vendors work efficiently without harming nests, and it gives nature lovers a chance to connect with conservation efforts in a meaningful way.

Whether you’re setting up chairs at sunrise or standing barefoot in the sand under a starry sky, knowing when and where turtle activity is happening is key to protecting these gentle ocean travelers.