Sea Turtle Friendly Beaches Campaign

About the Program

Category: Civic Education and Public Information (Best in Category)

Year: 2013

Improper beachfront lighting can imperil Florida’s endangered and threatened sea turtle populations. Research has shown that female sea turtles prefer nesting on dark beaches and hatchlings emerging at night will instinctively crawl toward artificial light sources instead of the moonlit ocean. This instinct can place sea turtle hatchlings in jeopardy as they crawl toward improper lighting on high-rise structures, parking lots, swimming pools and highways instead of the ocean.There are St. Lucie County regulations that stipulate beachfront lighting requirements. St. Lucie County enforces these rules during Sea Turtle Nesting Season which runs from March 1 – November 15. Failure to comply with sea turtle lighting requirements can result in a code violation and increased sea turtle mortality. Experts from several St. Lucie County departments worked together to help residents comply with light restrictions during sea turtle nesting season. Members of this team were from the UF/IFAS St. Lucie County Cooperative Extension, the Public Information Office, the Mosquito Control and Coastal Management Services Department, the Tourism Division and Code Compliance.Between 2010 and 2013, this program resulted in increased code compliance, improved and record numbers of sea turtles nesting on county beaches since 2001, and increased public knowledge of sea turtle biology and conservation.