Florida Fish and Wildlife officials are trumpeting a record year for green sea turtle nests in Florida.

Approx. 39,000 green sea turtle nests reported this year

It's a record year for the turtles

RELATED: Sea turtles in Florida

FWC says preliminary estimates show 39,000 green sea turtle nests in the state this year.

Nearly 30 years ago, only 464 green sea turtle nests existed over Florida's 200 miles of beaches.

The nests have been steadily rising since 2011. The numbers are even more impressive when you consider a female returns to her nesting beach every two to three years.

FWC attributes the growth to efforts to conserve the marine habitats and getting the public more aware about what to do if you come across a nest.

Last year the green sea turtle was reclassified from endangered to threatened, under the federal Endangered Species Act.

The final 2017 sea turtle nesting numbers will be available in early 2018.