Sea Turtle Weekly Update

Commonly Asked Questions Per FWC’s websites:

Why do artificial light sources attract hatchling sea turtles?

Hatchlings that crawl toward artificial light sources are following the same instinctive response that leads them seaward on naturally lighted beaches. To a hatchling on a beach, an artificial light source appears bright, yet it is not intense enough to brighten the sky and landscape. The resulting glare makes the direction of the artificial source appear overwhelmingly bright so that hatchlings will ignore other visual cues and move toward the artificial light no matter where it is relative to the sea. Artificial light is defined by FWC as light emanating from any human made device and shall not produce light that is directly, indirectly or cumulatively visible from any portion of the beach.

How bright can a light be without affecting hatchlings or adult sea turtles on the beach?

According to FWC, any light source producing light that is visible from the beach is likely to cause problems for sea turtles and their hatchlings and the most reliable "instruments" to use when making judgments about problem lighting may be the eyes of a human observer on the nesting beach. 

Keep it long – long wavelength, that is.  A lamp or light source emitting light wavelengths of 560 nanometers or greater – the yellow and red end of the light spectrum - is less disruptive to sea turtles than the lower wavelengths in the violet or blue spectrum.

Condos Received Code Magistrate Fines; One case tabled.

Case #21-0952- 840 S Collier Boulevard - City of Marco Island v. Marbelle Club Condominium- Sea Turtle Protection - Fined: $500 plus $50 admin cost.

Case #21-1042- 100N Collier Boulevard - City of Marco Island v. Crescent Beach Condo Association- Sea Turtle Protection – Fined: $500 plus $50 admin cost.

c. Case #21-1044- 260Seaview Court - City of Marco Island v. South Seas West Condo    Association- Sea Turtle Protection – TABLED till next session.

d. Case #21-1423- 6000 Royal Marco Way- City of Marco Island v. Royal Marco Point III- Sea Turtle Protection - Fined $500 plus $50 admin cost.

e. Case #21-1424- 5000 Royal Marco Way- City of Marco Island v. Royal Marco Point II- Sea Turtle Protection - Fined $250 plus $50 admin cost.