Sea Turtle Group Applauds Pompano Beach on New Lighting Ordinance

		PRESS RELEASE
		Sea Turtle Survival League  February 10, 1999  Contact: Dan Evans  (352) 373-6441
		Related Topics
		STSL and SMC Take Legal Action to Ensure Constitutional Protection of Florida's Threatened and Endangered Marine Species Florida Cabinet Designates "Sea Turtle Protection Months" and Honors Caribbean Conservation Corporation for its Forty Years of Sea Turtle Conservation STSL Launches Free the Beach Campaign Passage of Florida Fibropapillomatosis Resolution
		Current News  Past Releases

A recent decision by Pompano Beach to dim lights shining on the beach is being applauded by the Sea Turtle Survival League (STSL). The STSL works with coastal counties and cities to strengthen regulations protecting sea turtles from the harmful affects of artificial lighting, which annually kills hundreds of sea turtle hatchlings by causing them to crawl inland toward the light rather than toward the sea.

“The City Commission’s action is a positive step towards reducing the problem of artificial lighting on sea turtle nesting beaches,” said STSL Coordinator Dan Evans. “Hopefully other incorporated coastal areas in Broward County will follow suit.”

Many coastal businesses fear that lighting ordinances will make their establishment less visible to tourists. Evans said the ordinance should not negatively affect businesses since ordinances do not require lights to be turned off all together, but requires lights not to shine on the beach. Some lights may need to be turned off, but most lights can be redirected or lowered to avoid causing problems for sea turtles.

According to Evans, many businesses on other turtle nesting beaches with lighting ordinances have successfully continued to attract costumers and may even have seen an increase in the number of visitors by being “turtle friendly”.

“Businesses and sea turtles can survive together, it does not have to be an us or them situation,” Evans said.

During the past decade, scientists have determined that hatchling sea turtles are attracted to artificial beachfront lights when they emerge from the nest. If the beach isn’t dark enough, hatchling sea turtles become disoriented and often wander into parking lots or out into roads, where they eventually die.

STSL is a program of the nonprofit Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC). CCC is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year -- making it the oldest sea turtle research and conservation group in the world. For more information about CCC and STLS call 1-800-678-7853 or write CCC, 4424 NW 13th St, Suite A-1, Gainesville, FL 32609..