Beach Cleaning

Beach cleaning involves the removal of material left by the tides or beach goers on Florida's sandy shorelines. Stranded seaweed provides an important food source for beach and nearshore food chains, and should be left in place when possible. Human debris can pose a hazard to humans and animals, and should be removed. The use of mechanized beach cleaning equipment is limited during certain times of the year when threatened and endangered sea turtles are nesting. Those beach cleaners willing to commit to special protections for sea turtles can continue to operate and share the beach with Florida's sea turtles

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regulates mechanized beach cleaning under the Florida Beach & Shore Preservation Act, Florida Statute 161. In order for beach cleaning to occur during nesting season, FWC and DEP have developed special conditions to protect marine turtles, their nests and hatchlings. In higher density areas where marking every nest is not feasible, non-mechanical methods of cleaning, such as hand raking, may be necessary.

Beach Cleaning Conditions

Because of the high density of turtle nests in Brevard through Broward Counties, special protection measures are required during the sea turtle nesting season (March 1 through October 31) to protect nests:

1. Cleaning can only occur seaward of the high tide line and only during the day.
   
2. Cleaning can only occur after a Marine Turtle Permit Holder authorized by FWC has surveyed the beach for sea turtle nests .
   
3. It is the beach cleaner's responsibility to contract with a Permit Holder to conduct nesting surveys during nesting season. 
   
4. If no surveys are done, no cleaning can occur for up to 65 days or until after the end of the nesting season.
   
5. The Permit Holder must mark all nests within 10 feet of the high tide line.
   
6. Only equipment with 10-PSI tire pressure can operate on the beach.
   
7. Cleaning equipment must not penetrate more than two inches into the beach surface.
   
8. All material collected must be removed from the beach.
   
9. Cleaning equipment must stay at least 10 feet from salt-tolerant vegetation.
   

Common Questions about Beach Cleaning

What authorizations do I need to beach clean?

To clean the beach using mechanized equipment, you need a permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. You may also need a permit from your County or City.

Where is sea turtle nesting habitat?

Nesting habitat includes all sandy beaches adjoining the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Straits of Florida in all coastal counties and all inlet shorelines of those beaches (F.A.C. 62B-55.003). On the beach, nesting habitat extends from the high tide line to the top of the dune or seawall.

When is sea turtle nesting season?

Sea turtle nesting season starts March 1 in Brevard through Broward Counties (where most leatherback nesting occurs). In all other counties, May 1 is the start of sea turtle nesting season. Although most nesting is finished by September, the nesting season extends through October 31, when most eggs have hatched (F.A.C. 62B-55).

Can I bury seaweed on the beach?

You may request to bury organic matter in the wet portion of the beach on an ebb tide. All other material must be removed immediately from the beach.

Why can't I just avoid the turtle crawls?

Data on the number of sea turtle emergences are used to determine the "status" of sea turtle species whether they're endangered or threatened. The state has worked hard to standardize their survey procedures to provide the best data possible. It is impossible to assess turtle tracks, or to determine whether the turtle nested or not, on a beach after mechanical cleaning has occurred.

Who to call:

To obtain a beach cleaning permit: 
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) 1-877-314-1329

To find a Marine Turtle Permit Holder:
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) 1-850-922-4330

To report unauthorized beach cleaning:
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission 1-888-404-FWCC

 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
 Farris Bryant Building • 620 S. Meridian St. • Tallahassee, FL
 32399-1600 • (850) 488-4676 
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