Boat Strikes Pose a Significant Threat to Sea Turtles By Shreya Reddy

by · August 12, 2025

Editor’s Note: Shreya Reddy is a member of STPS and high school student.

This juvenile green sea turtle was struck by a boat at Port Canaveral and rescued by STPS volunteers
Linda Rutland and Jerry Lemon in June 2022. Luckily, the little green (later named LJ) was
successfully rehabilitated and released back to the ocean in December 2022. Photo by Jerry Lemon.

What is a Boat Strike?

A boat strike is a collision between any type of boat and a marine animal in the ocean. All watercraft (e.g., a jet ski) can be harmful to marine animals, but the most harmful are large and fast-moving. The types of watercraft reported and documented in boat strikes include cargo ships, whale-watching boats, ferries, military vessels, and private boats used for commercial and recreational purposes.

Why Are Sea Turtles Susceptible to Boat Strikes?

Most sea turtles spend about 3% of their time at the surface. They use the surface to breathe, bask in the sun or linger near the surface when they need to feed or travel. Additionally, sea turtles have poor hearing and vision, so they can’t easily detect when a boat is near them. This time at the surface makes sea turtles more vulnerable and susceptible to boat strikes.

Also, during nesting season, adult sea turtles gather just offshore from their nesting beaches. This proximity to shore increases their chances of being hit by watercraft.

How Many Sea Turtles Are Injured by Vessel Strikes?

NOAA Fisheries estimates that 20 to 30 percent of stranded sea turtles in Florida have boat strike injuries. A 2019 study found that from 1986 to 2014, about one-third of sea turtles stranded in Florida had definite or probable vessel-strike injuries. See “Characterizing Watercraft‐Related Mortality of Sea Turtles in Florida”.

How Can We Prevent Boat Strikes?

Use these tips to avoid sea turtles and other marine animals while boating.

  • Respect posted slow zones. By slowing down, you can give sea turtles enough time to react and move out of the way before your boat gets close to them.
  • Avoid boating through shallow waters or obvious foraging habitats like seagrass beds and coral reefs.
  • Be extra cautious in the summer months during nesting season when sea turtles are active near shore.
  • Designate someone on the boat to lookout for sea turtles and alert the captain.

Implementing these safety measures when boating and fishing can reduce the number of sea turtles killed by boat strikes.

Sources:

Remember, if you find a sick, injured, or dead sea turtle in Brevard County, please call the STPS Emergency Hotline at 321-206-0646. Elsewhere in Florida, please contact Florida’s FWC at 1-888-404-3922.

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