Sea Turtles and Lights:

Sea Turtles and Lights: Balancing Property Rights, Safety, and Sea Turtle Survival Tonya Long Imperiled Species Management Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Photo: T. Long, FWC

Sea turtles are ancient reptiles. Some species even pre-date dinosaurs. Photo: From F. A. Lucas, 1902, Animals of the Past, public domain Today s sea turtles may be smaller but no less remarkable. They are quite literally living fossils.

Photo: T. Hirama, FWC Photo: FWC Photo: T. Long, FWC Sea turtles have a complex life cycle Photo: T. Hirama, FWC Photo: B. Witherington, FWC Photo: T. Long, FWC Photo: T. Long, FWC Photo: B. Witherington, FWC

Sea Turtles Nesting in Florida Photo: M. Nicholas, Gulf Islands National Seashore Loggerhead Status: Threatened Photo: B. Witherington, FWC Green Status: Threatened Photo: FWC Leatherback Status: Endangered Photo: T. Hirama, FWC Kemp's Ridley Status: Endangered Photo: N. Brockhoff Hawksbill Status: Endangered

Sea Turtle Nesting 101 Nesting season: May 1 October 31 (March 1 October 31 in Brevard through Broward). Nesting/hatching both occur at night. Nests contain ~100 eggs and incubate ~2 months. Females nest every 2 3 years and several times per season. Females return to nest in the same areas where they hatched! Photo: T. Long, FWC

Florida has: About 40% of all loggerhead nests in the WORLD Nesting in Florida The 2 nd largest nesting population of green turtles in the Western Hemisphere

Over harvesting caused populations to collapse Large commercial fishery - not sustainable. A sea turtle can take 20 30 years to mature. Photo: Trip Advisor Many harvested before reproducing even once. Photo: Public Domain Photo: Marine Turtle Newsletter

Threats Hindering Sea Turtle Recovery Ingestion of Debris Disease Photo: Gulf World Marine Institute Photo: C. Johnson Photo: M. Care Entanglement Photo: R. Trindell, FWC Habitat Loss

Threats Hindering Sea Turtle Recovery Increase in Human Population and Development Photo: Mindlace Media & Photography Destin, Florida - 1964

Threats Hindering Sea Turtle Recovery Increase in Human Population and Development Photo: Mindlace Media & Photography Destin, Florida - 2004

Bay Threats Hindering Sea Turtle Recovery Artificial Lighting St. Johns Photo: FWC Photo: L. Brown, FWC Pinellas Volusia Photo: K. Schanzle, FWC Photo: T. Long, FWC Collier Broward Photo: FWC Photo: K. Schanzle, FWC

Why is artificial lighting such a problem? Effects on Nesting Females Photo: S. Schaf, FWC Effects on Emerging Hatchlings Photo: T. Long, FWC

Effects on Nesting Females Deters females from nesting. Photo: Ecological Associates, Inc. Interferes with navigation back to the water. Disoriented females may be harmed or even killed. Photo: S. Schaf, FWC Photo: T. Long, FWC

Effects on Nesting Females Photo: FWC LE Disoriented female on US 1 in Islamorada, June 2016

Effects on Hatchlings Hatchlings rely on multiple visual cues to find the water TOWARD bright open areas/horizons AWAY from dark silhouettes i.e. dunes and vegetation Attracted to SHORT wavelength light Less disturbed by LONG wavelength light ATTRACTION INDIFFERENCE AVERSION Witherington et al. 2014 Conflicting cues often lead to disorientation.

What is a disorientation? Photo: T. K. Long, Schanzle, FWC FWC O C E A N

Hatchling Disorientations Ocean Ocean Photo: FWC Undisturbed hatchlings: seaward orientation in a V formation Photo: Sea Turtle Conservation League of Singer Island Disoriented hatchlings: circular orientation or not towards the ocean

Hatchling Disorientations Hatchlings have a limited energy reserve for their frenzy period. Any delay on the beach results in increased dehydration, exhaustion, predation, and death. Photo: Gumbo Limbo Nature Center Photo: C. Lorne Photo: R. Trindell, FWC

Documenting Disorientations Where is the impact? How severe? Reports submitted to FWC and Code Enforcement. Reports do not signify noncompliance with the ordinance. Can be used to trigger an inspection and focus enforcement efforts.

Disorientation Events 2007 2016 3000 Disorientation Events 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 Hatchling Events Adult Events

Disorientation Events 2007 2016 Disorientation Events 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 140000 120000 100000 80000 60000 40000 20000 0 Nests Nests Hatchling Events Adult Events

The Problems Tall bright lights White lights Unshielded fixtures Uplights / floodlights Decorative lights Photos: T. Long, and K. Schanzle, FWC

Local, State, and Federal Regulations The Solutions! Wildlife Lighting Certification Program Technological Advances Photo: T. Long, FWC Education and Outreach Lighting Reviews and Retrofits Photo: K. Schanzle, FWC Photo: T. Long, FWC Photo: T. Long, FWC

Regulations who s in charge here? Federal Endangered Species Act Florida Marine Turtle Protection Act (379.2431(1) F.S.) State Model Lighting Ordinance (62B-55 F.A.C.) Local Local Lighting Ordinances

FWC s Three Golden Rules 1) Keep it Low 2) Keep it Shielded 3) Keep it Long (wavelength)

FWC Golden Rule Number 1 1) Keep it Low Keep mounting heights low to minimize light trespass. Keep lumens low use only the lumen output needed. For most applications this can be minimal. Photo: T. Long, FWC Photo: T. Long, FWC

Low Mounted Photos: FWC

FWC Golden Rule Number 2 1) Keep it Low 2) Keep it Shielded Eliminate the point source of light. Use full cut-off or fully recessed fixtures. Use 180 to 270 degree external beachside shields. Photo: K. Schanzle, FWC Photo: T. Long, FWC

Unshielded lights contribute to cumulative sky glow. In 2016, 60% of disorientation reports listed sky glow as a contributing source of light! Photo: T. Long, FWC

How effective are full cut-off fixtures? Unshielded Full Cut-Off

Shielded, Full Cut-off Fixtures Photos: T. Long and K. Schanzle, FWC

Don t forget the accessories! Baffles Louvers Photo: T. Long, FWC Photo: T. Long, FWC Focus light downward instead of outward Help prevent wall wash and excess glow

Baffles and Louvers Photo: K. Schanzle, FWC Photo: T. Long, FWC Photo: K. Schanzle, FWC

FWC Golden Rule Number 3 1) Keep it Low 2) Keep it Shielded 3) Keep it Long (wavelength) Use bulbs with wavelengths greater than 560 nm. Photo: J. Higgins, FWC Photo: T. Long, FWC

SHORT Wavelength Highly disruptive to sea turtles Incandescent Fluorescent and CFL White LED Bug Bulbs Also: Halogen, Mercury Vapor, Metal Halide, High Pressure Sodium

LONG Wavelength The best current technology Red LED Orange LED Amber LED Low Pressure Sodium (LPS)

Halfway Solutions to Lighting Problems Timers, switching off lights, or changing bulbs seasonally are NOT recommended long-term solutions. Malfunctions, tampering, forgetfulness Property manager turnover More work for the property More work for Code Enforcement Lower levels of compliance *May create unsafe conditions*

Don t forget about interior lights! Easy solutions: Close window coverings Turn off lights Move lamps away from windows Use fixtures with shades Put lights on a dimmer switch Use low wattage, warm white bulbs Photo: T. Long, FWC

Window Tint/Film 45% transmittance is the maximum allowance Current recommendation is 15% transmittance or less Photo: T. Long, FWC

Safety, Security, and Sea Turtles Ok, but is this lighting safe? The answer is YES! Many studies have found no increase in crime with reduced lighting. Several studies have even found the opposite! Lower intensity uniform lighting can reduce driver/pedestrian conflict.

Turtle Friendly Lighting and CPTED Strategies and design elements to deter criminal activity Overlapping recommendations Avoid bright security lights. Use shielded or cut-off luminaires. The amount of light is less critical than the evenness of light.

Night Vision Less is More Bright white light Destroys natural night vision Creates glare and shadow zones Low intensity longwavelength light See sharper contrast Detect movement quicker

Reviewing Lights for Sea Turtle Impacts: Is the light source directly visible from the beach? Is the light being reflected off surfaces and becoming visible from the beach? Does the glow (indirect light) visible from the beach contain short wavelength light? Photos: FWC

You ve identified the problem now what? In General: Change the lamp to a RED, ORANGE, or AMBER LED. Install shielding to block light visible from the beach. Install a fixture that directs light down and away from the beach. Disconnect and turn off light ONLY IF IT IS NOT NEEDED. Photos: T. Long and K. Schanzle, FWC

Where to Find Good Fixtures and Bulbs www.myfwc.com/conservation/you-conserve/lighting/certified

Where to Find Good Fixtures and Bulbs www.myfwc.com/conservation/you-conserve/lighting/certified

Staying on Track Distribute pre-season educational information Conduct a pre-season lighting survey Conduct regular lighting surveys throughout the season Keep a stash of bulbs on hand for maintenance needs

Goal: Good Lighting for Turtles AND People Photo: T. Long, FWC Photo: T. Long, FWC Crown Hotel, Miami Beach Photo: T. Long, FWC

For more info visit www.myfwc.com/seaturtle Thanks for all your hard work! Tonya Long Tonya.Long@myfwc.com Photo: T. Long, FWC