DATE: September 23, 2014
MEDIA CONTACT: Courtney Kiel
Environmental Planning and Community Resilience Division
PHONE: 954-519-1255
EMAIL: ckiel@broward.org
BROWARD COUNTY, FL – Broward County reports that it has been successful in its efforts to reduce the number of sea turtle nests that have to be relocated because of lighting concerns. Historically, Broward County's Sea Turtle Conservation Program would relocate threatened nests from illuminated beach areas to darker portions of the beach or to hatcheries. In fact, until the 2005 season, the program relocated almost 70 percent of nests deposited along Broward’s shores. Broward County Environmental Planning and Community Resilience Division announced today that, so far this season (March thru October) only 1.5 percent of nests have had to be relocated.
The County’s conservation strategy has been to move away from this potentially invasive method, as handling of developing eggs can decrease the hatch success. This change in approach is expected to increase the number of emerging hatchlings as the survival rate to adulthood is naturally very low.
Bright coastal lighting can pose a challenge for nesting sea turtles. It can deter a mother from nesting and if a female is unable to comfortably nest after multiple attempts, she will resort to suboptimal spots or she may even deposit her eggs directly into the ocean. Hatchlings are also impacted as they scurry out of the sand toward the brightest light, an instinct that served them well when the brightest lights were the reflections of moonlight and stars on the ocean. Today, artificial lights from restaurants, hotels and streets draw them inland where they end up exhausted and trapped in sewers or impacted by other manmade structures.
Broward County recognized that in order to help protect this natural resource they needed to modify and implement a model lighting ordinance that requires each coastal municipality to adopt and enforce their own ordinance. Since 1978, Broward Commissioners have supported the Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program which provides conservation of endangered and threatened sea turtle species by providing daily nest monitoring and public awareness efforts throughout the County. During sea turtle season, County staff documents light sources that may disorient adult and hatchling sea turtles. City code compliance officers will then work with residents and building managers to eliminate beach lighting problems and, if necessary, take enforcement actions. These efforts need to be celebrated as they have allowed turtle nesting habitats to remain as natural as possible given the high level of shorefront development in Broward County.
Hollywood had the largest reduction in relocated sea turtle nests this year. In 2013, 27.7 percent of nests were relocated compared to only 6.4 percent this season.
Hollywood poses a unique challenge because the charismatically illuminated businesses on the historic two-and-a-half mile Broadwalk back-up directly to the beach rather than a road. Many of the lights in this area need retrofitting so in order to give businesses enough time to comply, the Hollywood City Commission passed an ordinance requiring lights along the beach to meet dimmer standards by March 2015. To prepare for this change, more nests have been left in place and city officials have spent this year educating and informing residents of the dimmer standard that will now take effect in less than 6 months.
Additionally, there is a Sea Turtle Light Display at the Hollywood Beach Community Center that will be on exhibit until January 2015 and Hollywood is kicking off monthly light audits with the Hollywood Green team. These audits are intended to notify residents prior to enforcement measures including citations, that certain fixtures and bulbs will no longer be considered compliant. Almost all of the sea turtle friendly lights are energy efficient creating long term cost saving opportunities.
For more information on how to help create a more sustainable environment for sea turtles, please contact the Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program at 954-519-1255.
About Environmental Planning and Community Resilience
Broward County’s Environmental Planning and Community Resilience Division protects, restores and enhances the quality, abundance and diversity of the County’s natural resources through coordinated management efforts in five areas: water resource policy and planning, urban and natural lands management, beach and marine resources, energy and sustainability, and environmental monitoring. For more information call 954-519-1270, visit Broward.org/NaturalResources or follow us on Twitter @BrowardResource.
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