The Florida Aquarium Releases Rehabilitated Sea Turtles Back to the Atlantic Ocean

September 24, 2025

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After more than seven months of intensive care at The Florida Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center in Apollo Beach, three juvenile green sea turtles made their way home to the waters of the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday.

The turtles stranded along Florida’s east coast this past winter—debilitated by prolonged exposure to cold water and air temperatures. All three suffered from low body temps and had to overcome several medical challenges including skin infections, pneumonia, and other bacterial infections.

Initially stabilized at partner facilities on the east coast (details below), through a partnership with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), these three turtles transferred to The Florida Aquarium in January and February for long-term care. At the Aquarium, they received supportive treatments including antibiotics, specialized diets, and daily monitoring until staff deemed them healthy enough to return to the wild.

On Tuesday, the Aquarium’s sea turtle team transported the turtles to FWC-designated release sites at Ormond Beach and Cocoa Beach. Release locations are selected by FWC based on where the turtles originally stranded to ensure their safety and help them return to their natural migration routes.

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+ PHOTOS OF THE TURTLES BEING RELEASED
Courtesy: The Florida Aquarium

Turtles released:

• Salem: stranded off Patrick Space Force Base; triaged at Brevard Zoo Sea Turtle Healing Center; released from Cocoa Beach
• Eureka: stranded off St. Augustine; triaged at Sea Turtle Hospital at UF Whitney Laboratory; released from Ormond Beach
• Lutz: stranded off Port Orange; triaged at Volusia County Marine Science Center; released from Ormond Beach

A Record-Breaking Year for Sea Turtle Care
This winter brought some of the earliest cold-stress events biologists have seen, resulting in a surge of sea turtle rescues. The Florida Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center reached full capacity in February, caring for 56 sea turtles at one time—the highest number since the center opened in 2019. Thanks to the Aquarium’s staff, volunteers, and partners, all but three have been successfully returned to the wild, and the team is now working to help the remaining patients fully recover.

How the Public Can Help
Rehabilitating a single sea turtle can cost up to $15,000, and no federal funding currently offsets those expenses. The public can support ongoing rescue efforts by:

• Visiting The Florida Aquarium or becoming an annual member. A portion of every ticket sold supports sea turtle rehabilitation efforts.
• Donating directly to The Florida Aquarium’s sea turtle conservation efforts.
• Advocating for increased funding and policy changes to protect endangered sea turtles.
• Reporting stranded or distressed sea turtles to FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC.

Since opening its Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center in Apollo Beach in 2019, The Florida Aquarium has cared for more than 250 sea turtles. The two-story, 19,000-square-foot facility features six rehabilitation pools—including one of the state’s deepest turtle-exclusive dive pools—and a state-of-the-art surgery suite.

To note: All sea turtle rehabilitation work conducted by The Florida Aquarium is done with the approval of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) under conditions not harmful to marine turtles and authorized under conservation activities pursuant to FWC MTP-25-179.