Tuesday, November 3, 2026
A Sea Turtle nest by South Seas Tower number three. Note the various markings, flagging tape, and yellow ribbon with the word CAUTION! The nest is also covered with a protective screen or cage.
A fire pit and grill were left on the beach at the end of the vegetation north of the South Seas building. Marco’s Beach Ordinance on open fires: “It shall be unlawful for any person to have open fires, barbecue grills, including portable grills, or other incendiary devices on the beach. It is unlawful for any person to dispose of any coals, briquettes, ember, or other heated objects except in city-designated receptacles in designated areas.”
Marco Island’s beach has been monitored for sea turtle activities since 1990 to comply with the permit requirements for beach renourishment and raking. Every morning during Sea Turtle season, you will observe daily surveys performed by Collier County’s Sea Turtle Monitors along Marco’s 7.1 mile beach which encompasses the following boundaries: from inside Big Marco Pass [Hideaway Beach (DNR monument H-16 to H-1)] south to Caxambas Pass (DNR monument R-131 to R-148).
Each morning, the sea turtle monitors will check for sea turtle emergence activity along the high-water line (HWL) utilizing all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) equipped with low-pressure tires. These are permitted vehicles owned by Collier County and are to be driven only by the Collier County Sea Turtle monitors.
Nest Markings and What They Mean
According to Collier County’s Sea Turtle Monitor Program, “all nests are marked with stakes, flagging tape, and a sign to provide protection; four 36-inch long wooden stakes are placed in the corners of each area. Yellow ribbon with the word ‘caution is placed around the stakes, and a Sea Turtle Nest Sign is affixed to alert and direct the beach raker and the public away from the nests. In addition, the stakes were marked with their direction (SW, NW, SE, NE) to facilitate clutch location if stakes were lost during storms. Nests laid in areas known for high depredation are covered with a protective screen or cage,” such as the ones you see on Marco’s beaches.
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