DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, Fla. — This year's hurricane season starts in less than two weeks, but some areas in Volusia County are still trying to rebuild from the 2022 hurricane season.

What You Need To Know

  • Earlier this year, construction companies in Volusia County got the green light to continue work through turtle nesting season

  • The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the county are allowing already permitted construction projects to continue, unless a turtle nest surfaces near that area

  • East Coast Construction & Design was building a public walkway in Daytona Shores, but halted construction on Tuesday due to a turtle nest

  • The company will now have to wait 60 to 90 days until the turtles hatch from their nests to finish the project

Earlier this year, construction companies in Volusia County got the green light to continue to work through turtle nesting season, which runs from May through October.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the county are allowing already permitted construction projects to continue, unless a turtle nest surfaces near that area.

On Tuesday morning, contractor John Zemball of East Coast Construction & Design came to one of his projects in Daytona Beach Shores and got some news.

“You know, we were just getting underway here," he said. "And we were a little surprised that mother nature showed up this morning."

Zemball and his team of workers immediately shut down the project, where they were building a shoreline stabilization area to prevent future hurricane damage, and a public walkway to the shore.  

The spot had been hit hard in 2022 from hurricanes Ian and Nicole.

Zemball said turtle watchers who comb the area found the nest.

“The volunteers walk the beach. They look for these signs," he said. "They come up and identify the nest and then they enclose it with caution tape."

Zemball contracted his team to build the project within three weeks, but because of the nest, he will be paying workers for up to 90 days.  

He said, though, that it’s all part of being a good steward of the environment.

“As long as we can mitigate the cost with demobilizing efficiently (and) moving the crew to other projects to keep them working," Zemball said. "Because these guys need to work. And we need to protect the turtles."

The following statement was attributed to Environmental Specialist Jaymie Reneker of Volusia County:

Per permits issued by Volusia County and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, permittees must inform the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) of any nests deposited within the project area. The FWC will then work with the permittee to assess whether construction can proceed, taking into account the proximity of the nest to the construction activities and the nature of the work being performed. Through collaboration, the community, the County, and other governmental agencies have and will continue to rebuild while respecting and protecting precious marine life.