City Kicks-Off Sea Turtle Season to Full House

The City of Marco Island held a Sea Turtle Open House on April 17^th, and residents filled the room to hear how they could help protect the nesting loggerheads and keep the hatchlings from getting disoriented. Any day now, nests will begin popping up. Last year, the first loggerhead female nester arrived on May 6th, and the last nest was laid on August 12, 2023.

From May 1st to October 31st, Marco Island beaches turn into a very important nesting habitat for female loggerhead sea turtles. Guest presenters all urged beachgoers to keep their distance from turtle nests and beach-facing condos should avoid using bright lights at night.  

Representatives from the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Sea Turtle Monitoring team from Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, City of Marco Island Sea Turtle Task Force and Collier County Sea Turtle Surveyors all had a clear message for residents - “Keep the Beach Dark” at night to help the endangered turtles and hatchlings find their way to water by turning lights off at night or drawing the curtains. 

According to FWC, disorientation from artificial lighting has caused thousands of hatchling deaths each year in Florida and is a significant marine turtle conservation problem. “If an artificial light source on the beach is brighter than the natural light of the ocean horizon, hatchlings will head towards the artificial light source, a process known as disorientation,” according to sea turtle experts.

Just follow the three golden rules of sea turtle-friendly lighting to stay in compliance. According to FWC and the City of Marco Island’s Sea Turtle Ordinance:

Keep it LOW – fixtures must be mounted as low as possible; and the bulb must produce the lowest wattage/lumens necessary for the needed purpose. 

Keep it LONG - lamp/bulb must produce only long wavelength light (560 nm or greater, which is amber, orange, or red)

Keep it SHIELDED - fixtures must be completely downward-directed. And fixtures must be able to shield the bulb, lamp, or glowing lens from the beach.

An Interactive Light Display was in the lobby during the Sea Turtle Open House showing what sea turtle light compliance looks like. The display is on loan courtesy of the Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC) for two months with an interactive video for visitors to watch. 

When a sea turtle comes ashore laden with eggs but turns around without depositing them on the sand, it is known as a false crawl. According to experts, this happens for many reasons - noises or lights on the beach, beach furniture blocking her way, trash left on the beach, or something did not feel right with the sand. 

According to Code Enforcement Officer Ira Warder, “The goal of our lighting enforcement is very simple – to ensure the safety of our Sea Turtles during nesting season and to prevent false crawls and disorientation.”

Kathryn Grigsby, Environmental Planner for the City also added, “We will also enforce obstructions left on the beach. All obstructions must be removed by 9:00 PM.”

“As per 54-155, the Sea Turtle Task Force will be conducting lighting compliance inspections at least every two weeks. If your lights are on between 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM and they are visible from the beach, you will receive a notice of violation written warning.”

The Enforcement Process:  

As per 54-156, after one warning, if you are cited again in the same season, the fine will be $150.

Second Offense – minimum of $500.

Third Offense – minimum of $1,500.

Irreparable event – maximum fine as per Florida Statute 162.09 (usually $5,000).

How You Can Help:

* Limit night activities on the beach during nesting season.

* Take back what you bring such as chairs, beach toys, umbrellas, litter, etc.

* Fill in holes before you leave the beach.

* If you witness a sea turtle crawling out of the ocean, digging a nest or returning to the water, remain quiet and enjoy the treat from a distance. 

* No cell phone lights or flash photography on the beach after 9:00 PM.

* To report injured or dead sea turtles, call FWC at 561-357-4200 or locally at the Code non-emergency number, 239-389-5060.