BROWARD COUNTY, FL - March 1 marks the official start of sea turtle nesting season in Broward County. Last year, the Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program (BCSTCP) documented more than 3,099 nests on the County's 24-mile coastline (including the Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park). Three species of sea turtles typically nest on Broward's beaches: leatherbacks (Dermochelys coriacea), loggerheads (Caretta caretta), and green turtles (Chelonia mydas). Local nesting populations have increased since the BCSTCP began monitoring in 1981; in fact, leatherback turtles broke local records in 2021 by laying 86 nests in Broward County, almost twice as many as their previous record of 46 nests in 2012!

Artificial lighting is one of the biggest threats to sea turtles in southeast Florida. Hatchlings use natural light from the moon and stars to locate the water after hatching, but artificial lighting near the beach can disrupt this sea-finding process and cause turtles to become "disoriented" or confused. To reduce the amount of artificial lighting reaching the beach in Broward County, local coastal municipalities enforce lighting ordinances during sea turtle nesting season (March 1-October 31). Lighting near the beach should be "sea turtle-friendly" and follow all three criteria below, established by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC):

• Keep it low
  • Fixtures should be mounted as low as possible to achieve their purpose.
  • Fixtures/bulbs should produce the lowest lumens (light output) necessary for the task.
    
    
• Keep it shielded
  • The bulb, lamp, or glowing lens should be shielded from the beach.
  • This includes interior lights: curtains, shades, and blinds should be closed after sunset.
  • Apply window tint of 15% inside to outside light transmittance.
    
    
• Keep it long (wavelength)
  • Fixtures/bulbs must produce long wavelength light (560 nm or longer) without filters, gels or lenses.
  • Amber and red LEDs are good examples of these types of light.

Interior lights can also cause sea turtles to become disoriented. Implement these tips to reduce the amount of light reaching the beach from interior sources:

• Close curtains or blinds after sunset.
• Move light sources away from windows.
• Choose low wattage, warm white bulbs such as those with a color temperature of 3000K.
• Use fixtures with shades instead of exposed bulbs.
• Apply window tint of 15% inside to outside light transmittance.

Lights from cell phones can also disturb nesting and hatchling sea turtles. If you visit the beach at night during nesting season, keep your cell phone safely stowed in your pocket or bag.

FWC provides a list of certified fixtures that can be safely installed near sea turtle nesting beaches. Alternatively, you can contact the Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program for assistance with light retrofitting or additional information.

For turtle nesting updates throughout the season and other environmental news, follow @BrowardCountyEnvironment on Facebook and @BrowardEnv on Twitter.

About Resilient Environment   
The mission of the Resilient Environment Department is to further the resilience of individuals, the built environment, natural resources and economy of Broward County. This is accomplished by providing climate mitigation and adaptation planning; natural resource planning, management and protection; planning for appropriate land use patterns and housing mix; enforcing environmental, development and construction regulations; delivering animal care protection and adoption services and providing for consumer protection. For more information call 954-519-1270, visit our website or follow us on Twitter.

February 23, 2022
MEDIA CONTACT: Stephanie Kedzuf, Environmental Project Coordinator         
Natural Resources Division
954-519-1255
skedzuf@broward.org