Stay in the know about wildlife, water quality, and ecosystems on Sanibel and Captiva Islands and in Southwest Florida
Public Sea Turtle Hatchling Releases Begin with Spanish-Language Session
The evening of July 30 marked the kickoff of SCCF’s 2026 public sea turtle hatchling releases with a special bilingual session.
SCCF Biologist Amanda Manrique led the session, which was created to ensure that language is not a barrier to nature lovers witnessing a truly special moment — a sea turtle hatchling beginning its journey to the sea.
With the assistance of Sea Turtle Technician Lizzy Hepworth, Manrique gave a presentation in Spanish about SCCF’s sea turtle program, sea turtle biology, and ways to keep our beaches sea turtle-friendly.
The group then made their way to the beach after sunset to release a hatchling found in that morning’s nest inventory.
To ensure the safety of the hatchling, no lights were used during the release, except for red light to confirm the hatchling reached the water safely.
“With the cheers of an enthusiastic audience, the hatchling quickly made its way down the beach and into the Gulf,” said Manrique. “We hope this program encourages more diversity and inclusion for conservation in Southwest Florida and helps spread the importance of protecting our coastal ecosystems.”
New this summer, SCCF is offering weekly public hatchling releases on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in August. However, registration and waitlists filled almost immediately after they were announced on July 16. The releases will be held annually in August, with registration for 2027 announced in July 2027.