DARK SKIES & SEA TURTLE NESTING

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1 2018 Sustainability Workshop Series DARK SKIES & SEA Workshop #4 TURTLE NESTING PRESENTED BY: THE CITY OF SATELLITE BEACH WITH GUEST SPEAKER: NICOLE PERNA FROM THE BARRIER ISLAND CENTER AND SEA TURTLE PRESERVATION SOCIETY

2 SUSTAINABILITY ACTION PLAN Brief overview of the plan & how it relates to the workshops /projects. On May 3 rd in 2017 the City of Satellite Beach began implementing its Sustainability Action Plan. The plan was created in partnership with FIT and edited by Rochelle Lawandales. The categories of the plan are, Built environment, Land and water systems, Energy and transportation, Community outreach and Quality of life. From these categories the Green Achievement Targets were created. These workshops will satisfy the Green Achievement Target #7 Public Workshops The project will satisfy the Green Achievement Target 13. Obtain provisional status of the Dark Sky Certification(IDA).

3 Why IDA? In 2013 the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission hired IDA to identify coastal lighting that could threaten the nesting habitats of endangered sea turtles. After spending weeks in the field, our experts developed a series of recommendations for turtle friendly lighting that are now being put into place and that will protect future generations of turtles. Light pollution has a major impact on species of endangered or threatened sea turtles that nest IDA Status? on developed beaches. With the use of proper lighting practices, technology and awareness, IDA is making it possible for our endangered Currently seeking a sponsor Satellite Beach will need a formal nomination from an IDA member in good standing. sea turtle populations to rebound.

4 IDA & Outdoor Lighting Basics Modern society requires outdoor lighting for a variety of needs, including safety and commerce. IDA recognizes this but advocates that any required lighting be used wisely. To minimize the harmful effects of light pollution, lighting should Only be on when needed Only light the area that needs it Be no brighter than necessary Minimize blue light emissions Be fully shielded (pointing downward) For more information please visit

5 Artificial Lights Can Lead Baby Sea turtles to their Demise Sea turtles live in the ocean but hatch at night on the beach. Hatchlings find the sea by detecting the bright horizon over the ocean. Artificial lights draw them away from the ocean. In Florida alone, millions of hatchlings die this way every year. Ecosystems: Everything is Connected For billions of years, all life has relied on Earth s predictable rhythm of day and night. It s encoded in the DNA of all plants and animals. Humans have radically disrupted this cycle by lighting up the night. Plants and animals depend on Earth s daily cycle of light and dark rhythm to govern life-sustaining behaviors such as reproduction, nourishment, sleep and protection from predators. Scientific evidence suggests that artificial light at night has negative and deadly effects on many creatures including amphibians, birds, mammals, insects and plants. Artificial Lights Disrupt the World s Ecosystems. Nocturnal animals sleep during the day and are active at night. Light pollution radically alters their nighttime environment by turning night into day.

6 Review Of all the animals on our planet, perhaps none are under more threat from light pollution than sea turtles. Sea turtles live in the ocean, yet they hatch at night on sandy beaches. Hatchling sea turtles have one immediate goal to ensure their future survival find the ocean. They have evolved to locate the sea by seeing the brighter horizon over the ocean, and moving away from landward silhouettes. On a natural beach the newly hatched sea turtles find the open horizon and make for the water. Adult female sea turtles have a hard time finding an appropriately dark beach for laying their eggs and the lights of our cities confuse their hatchlings. Instead of reaching the safety of the ocean, the newborn sea turtles often head for illuminated roads, civilization, danger and death. In Florida alone, millions of hatchling sea turtles die this way every year. Turtle friendly light fixtures are designed to keep light where it is needed pointed downward. And turtle-friendly light sources limit the spectrum of light emitted to minimize the impact on turtles. When used correctly, these lights provide proper illumination for human safety without negatively impacting sea turtle nesting or hatchlings ability to find the ocean.

7 Thank You! Big Thanks to Nichole Perna, Land Management Specialist for the Barrier Island Center Thank you For attending the Workshop Please direct any and all questions about this and other workshops to the City's Environmental Programs Coordinator. 565 Cassia Boulevard Satellite Beach, FL Tel: Fax: Website: Stacey Marquis, M.A.M.C., Development Coordinator/Lighting Project Specialist Sea Turtle Conservancy, 4424 NW 13th Street, Suite B-11 Gainesville, FL The Next workshop topic is Community Involvement and Stewardship opportunities it is scheduled for May 31 st and will be posted on face book and the City's website.