FWC asks beachgoers to protect the hatchlings

August 10, 2009
Contact: Dr. Robbin Trindell, 850-922-4330

•  Sea turtle facts

Nesting season for three species of endangered sea turtles is well under way on the sandy beaches along Florida's Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico shores. 

Eggs from threatened loggerhead, endangered green, and endangered leatherback sea turtles have been incubating in the warm sand for 45 days or more. Soon baby sea turtles, or hatchlings, will begin their journey up through the sand, across the beach, into the waves and across miles of open water out to the weed lines. There they will feed and grow, and many loggerheads will return to Florida's coastal waters as juvenile and subadults to feed.

Female sea turtles often return to nest on the same sandy beaches where they hatched.
Florida's beachfront residents and visitors can help those hatchlings make it safely to the sea, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

"By following a few simple guidelines, residents and visitors can ensure those hatchlings will reach the water safely and ensure the cycle will continue far into the future," said Dr. Robbin Trindell of the FWC's Imperiled Species Management Program. "Both nesting females and hatchlings have evolved to find the bright horizon over the open ocean as they move across the dark nighttime beach."

Beachfront lights, bright flashlights and lanterns on the beach can confuse them, causing female sea turtles to leave without nesting, and adults and hatchlings to become trapped on the beach. The FWC urges beach residents and visitors to keep the beaches dark by managing beachfront lighting.

• Turn off lights that are not needed for human safety, and focus other lights directly where they are needed, limiting the amount of light spill or trespass onto the nesting beach.
• Shield light sources and use appropriate bulbs such as red or amber LEDs or bug bulbs.  These bulbs emit a long-wavelength light that is less likely to confuse or disorient adult or hatchling sea turtles on the beach.
• If you must use a flashlight on the beach, keep the beam focused on the ground in front of you. Do not point it down the beach or toward the water.

As part of a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the FWC is offering a Shield Loan program for property owners in Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties.  In addition to the shield offer, a limited number of amber LED bulbs are available for beachfront property owners who agree to manage their lights to minimize light trespass onto adjacent sea turtle nesting beaches in those counties. 

To find out more about this program and to see if you qualify to receive shields or LED bulbs free of charge, contact Chris Milne at 561-575-5408.  Information on the FWC Shield Loan Program also is available at MyFWC.com/SeaTurtle. 

If you see eggs, an exposed nest, hatchling sea turtles, or an injured or dead turtle on the beach, please contact the FWC at 888-404-FWCC (404-3922).  Do not handle or collect eggs or remove hatchlings from the beach.  All such activities with sea turtles require a special permit from the FWC.