Electrician-South Florida

Sea Turtle Lighting Compliance

Studies have found that baby sea turtles have an innate sense to follow the brightest element in the sky in order to guide them safely into the water immediately after hatching. Ideally, the brightest element in the night sky should be the moon, but this is often not the case when artificial light is used near a sea turtle nesting beach. Sea turtles have been nesting on our sandy beaches for millions of years. In the past, their hatchlings were able to find the ocean by crawling away from the dark silhouettes of the dunes and toward the brighter horizon of the night sky reflecting on the ocean. Now, in many places, the sky over the dunes is the brighter horizon, lit up by thousands of artificial lights. This causes problems for the hatchlings, which end up crawling away from the safety of the ocean and towards the dangers of dehydration, predators and the street. It also causes similar problems for the mother turtles that, once they navigate ashore to lay their nests, become confused by the lights and cannot find the sea to return to it.

The most important aspect of light management is to confine light to the property and not let it stray onto the beach. The greater the amount of light near the beach, the greater the potential for harm to sea turtles. Evaluate the level of light illumination and, if possible, implement some of these recommended changes:

• Position fixtures so the light source cannot be seen from the beach.
• Aim lights down and away from the beach.
• Apply shields to light fixtures.
• Eliminate fixtures that allow light to shine in many directions. Replace them with fixtures that direct light only to the area where it is needed.
• Recess porch lights into the underside of a structural component such as a beam, arch or staircase.
• Lower the mounting height of pole lights.
• Position walkway fixtures close to the ground.
• Plant native vegetation to block light from shining on the beach.
• Replace blue, green and white emitting lights with long wavelength lights that appear yellow, amber and red to the human eye, such as bug lights. Colors at the red end of the spectrum are less visible to sea turtles.
• Turn off nonessential lights during sea turtle nesting season.
• Eliminate accent lights and decorative fixtures.
• Reduce the number of fixtures used to illuminate the property.
• Reduce the wattage of bulbs used in exterior fixtures.
• Place lights on timers so they are on only when needed.
• Place security lights on motion detection settings so they activate only when someone is on the property.
• Install 45% transmittance window tint (saves on energy costs too).
• Position interior lights away from windows.
• Draw curtains and window shades at night so interior light does not shine to the beach.
• Do not use flashlights and lanterns on the beach at night during turtle nesting season.

Questions frequently arise as to why a light source near the beach has any more influence over a hatchling's orientation than does a full moon. Although celestial light sources are very bright, they are also very distant. As light travels from these sources to earth, it is scattered by the atmosphere and reflected of the ocean and features on land. As a result of these moderating influences, by the time celestial light reaches the beach, it is only moderately directed. From a hatchling's perspective, celestial light does not make one direction appreciably brighter than another does. On the other hand, artificial light sources are relatively close to the beach. Light reaching the beach from these sources is highly directed. From a hatchling's perspective one direction (the one towards the artificial light source) is often much brighter than all others, and this typically will be the direction in which the hatchling will choose to orient.

Florida has developed a program to minimize damages caused by light pollution. This program is composed of an annual mailing, night lighting compliance inspections, violation notices and enforcement action. Prior to nesting season, a sea turtle information package is sent to beach front property owners, managers and renters. The package illustrates the importance of shielding or turning off lights during sea turtle nesting season and suggests inexpensive methods of reducing and minimizing beach lighting. Lighting compliance inspections are conducted throughout sea turtle nesting and hatching season. Light sources that create a visible shadow on the beach are considered a violation. When a light violation has been identified, efforts are made to work to correct the problem. Any violations not corrected are turned over to the Code Enforcement Department for formal action.

Failure to protect sea turtles from harmful lighting can result in hearings before the County Code Enforcement Board. This board has the ability to fine violators up to $1,000 per day for an initial violation; $5,000 per day for repeat violations, or a one-time fine not to exceed $15,000. Criminal and/or civil prosecution by Florida and/or the U.S. government may result if lighting harasses or causes a sea turtle injury or death.

Contact Elcon Electric to learn how we can help you become compliant and "turtle friendly." Please click here to view Sesco Lighting's "Turtle-Safe Lighting Fixture Handbook"!