Good year for sea turtles on Florida Coast

A record number of Loggerhead sea turtle nests have been counted this year on the Florida coast in the USA. From the original article found here – “In 2012, index beach surveyors counted 58,172 loggerhead nests, one of the highest counts since monitoring began in 1989. Nesting on these beaches peaked at 59,918 nests in 1998, and hit a low of 28,074 in 2007.”

The article also notes that leatherback and green turtles are also making a comeback. The number for those sea turtle nests are also on the rise. The article does not site the reason why there is an increase. Was it due to conservation efforts, protection of the area or did natural environment factors such a ocean temperature or decline of predators have a deciding factor? Either way it is good news.