According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), up to 80 percent of sea turtle hatchlings die every year because of light pollution around the beaches. In 1972, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) established The Endangered Species Act (ESA), which was passed into law. The ESA addresses the protection of just not Sea Turtles, but other Coastal Wild Life as well. Other types of Wildlife that are affected by artificial lighting in coastal communities include Shore Birds and Beach Mice. FWC has assisted in developing the Wild Life Friendly guidelines to provide standards for beachfront lighting ordinances for nesting communities around the United States.
Sea turtles nest between May and October. During this season, the female turtles return to the beaches of coastal communities to nest. Artificial lighting discourages females from this nesting. If a female fails to nest after multiple false crawls, she will resort to less-than-optimal nesting spots or deposit her eggs in the ocean. In either case, the survival outlook for hatchlings is slim. Artificial Lighting near the shore can cause hatchlings to become disoriented and wander where they often die of dehydration or predation. Hatchlings have an innate instinct that leads them to the brightest horizon, which is usually over the ocean. Excess Artificial lighting can cause the hatchlings to become confused as to where the horizon is and can lead them inland to dangerous conditions such as roadways and pools which can result in the death of the hatchling.
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What Does a Turtle-Friendly Lighting Fixture Look Like?
FWC has set wildlife lighting guidelines that different communities can adopt and implement to preserve the wildlife populations on their coastlines. The world-renowned ordinances outline the light technologies and practices that property owners should consider. The FWC and FWS have teamed up to develop the Wildlife Lighting Certification Program that provides information on fixtures that have already been vetted to be Wildlife Friendly Compliant including appropriate applications. Liton is proud to be included in the Wildlife Lighting Certification Program.
For a light fixture to qualify as wildlife friendly, it must meet the following criteria:
Keep it Low: The luminaire needs to be mounted as low as practical while still fulfilling the intended illumination purpose
Keep It Long: Use long wavelength (greater than 560 nm AND absent wavelengths below 560 nm) light sources such as amber, orange, or red LEDs without the use of filters, phosphorus coatings, gels, or lenses.
Keep It Shielded: The fixture must meet or exceed full cutoff. This is defined as no light emitting above a 90-degree plane. The fixture must be shielded so that the lamp or glowing lens is not directly visible.
Which Light Technologies and Colors Do the FWC Approve?
Turtles are usually attracted to polychromatic lights, including white fluorescent, mercury vapor, halogen, and metal halide. Thus, the FWC recommends installing monochromatic types of light such as narrow band orange, red, and amber (lights with turtle friendly wavelengths with a minimum of 560n) in the near-beach infrastructure. Manufacturers included in the Wildlife Certification Program, such as LITON, provide turtle safe lighting solutions that are critical in saving the endangered species of green and hawksbill turtles.
Are the Turtle Friendly Lighting Ordinances Effective?
FWC’s Dean Gallagher notes that the implementation of turtle safe outdoor lighting is making a significant difference in the sea turtle population. For instance, in Volusia County, the nests along a 22-mile stretch of the beach had increased from only 54 in 1985 to more than 400 in 2004 following the adoption of strict lighting regulations in new and existing infrastructure.
Besides the regulations, FWS and FWC raise awareness by offering a marine lighting course to homeowners and manufacturers. The course emphasizes the impact of artificial lighting on ocean wildlife while highlighting the best solutions for preserving these sea animals’ populations.
Examples of Architecturally Pleasing Turtle Friendly Lighting Fixtures
Your beachfront lighting should not be dull and boring just because you must comply with Wildlife Friendly lighting guidelines. The following Wildlife friendly lighting options will give your property a warm and cozy atmosphere while keeping the sea ecosystem intact.
Bollard Lights
The turtle-safe bollard lights design suits boardwalks and beachfront areas with high foot traffic. Amber lights keep the walkways bright without disturbing the turtles’ sleep patterns. The bollard lights come in multiple styles, colors, and wattages to fit different architectural designs. Louvered turtle friendly bollard styles direct the light downwards to meet the FFWCC “low” requirement. Whether you want light fixtures with round, square, or dome tops, there’s a bollard light to serve your needs.
Wall Packs
Turtle safe wall pack lights are available in different colors, styles, and wattages, making them suitable for hotels, beachfront residences, condominiums, and other infrastructure. However, they must be shielded or have a full cut-off to illuminate outdoor spaces without interfering with the sea turtles’ life cycle.
Flexible LED strip light
You can install the flexible LED strip light along the steps or pool deck. However, they must be recessed mounted to meet the turtle-friendly lighting requirements. Only the amber and red LEDs with aluminum channels are approved.
In-Ground Pathway lights
These light fixtures must use yellow or red LEDs and be fitted in-ground in driveways, parking areas, pool decks, and pathways.
Recessed In-wall step lights
The turtle friendly recessed in-wall light fixtures should be 12 inches above the floor. Therefore, you can install them on the pool deck, second level, and ground floor. Recessed in-wall lights on the perimeter wall must face away from the beach. Yellow, red, or amber LEDs are the only lights permitted for use with this fixture.
Where Must You Install Turtle Friendly Lighting?
The FWC outlines that all the outdoor light fixtures on the seaward side and the sides of the building perpendicular to the shoreline should be turtle friendly. Thus, these exterior lights should be shielded or fully cut off and directed downwards. The sides of the building visible from the beach are treated like the seaward sides. While no regulatory requirements exist for indoor lighting, the windows visible from the beach must have turtle glass. Whether you are looking for bollard lights, reflectors, ceiling downlights, or wall mounts that meet the turtle-friendly lighting guidelines, LITON Lighting is here for you. Liton has excellent lighting solutions that will give your home aesthetic astuteness while preserving the sea turtle population.