Fort Myers Beach launches sea turtle nesting education campaign

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There were a record number of sea turtle disorientations last year. File photo

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A washed-out sea turtle nest on Fort Myers Beach over the summer. There were 31 sea turtle nests on Fort Myers Beach which didn't hatch due to being washed over or washed out. Many were in low-lying areas of the beach that were hit by heavy rains this summer and where the topography has been altered since the last few hurricanes, including many where the town's beach renourishment had already taken place. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

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These sea turtle hatchlings were crushed on Estero Boulevard after disorientating from their nest on Fort Myers Beach. File photo

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With sea turtle nesting season beginning May 1, the Town of Fort Myers Beach is launching a community education campaign this week to help residents become partners to the town’s nesting sea turtles, Fort Myers Beach Public Information Officer Abigail Eberhart announced.

The Town is asking the public to get familiar with local sea turtle lighting ordinance requirements to protect threatened sea turles, which nest each year on Fort Myers Beach.

As part of the campaign, town staff will visit homeowner associations across Fort Myers Beach in the weeks leading up to May 1 to walk through requirements, answer questions, and help communities come into lighting compliance before the season begins.

“We want this to be a successful year for nesting sea turtles and their hatchlings on Fort Myers Beach, and that starts with all of us being good environmental partners,” said Chadd Chustz in a statement issued by the town.

The Town’s Sea Turtle Conservation Code applies to all properties that may produce artificial light visible from the beach, not just beachfront homes during the sea turtle nesting season between May 1 and Oct. 31.

Light shining from homes that is visible from the beach can lead to disorientation of sea turtles nesting on the island and their hatchlings. From May 1 to Oct. 31, outdoor, non-shielded lights are not allowed from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. All windows must be covered by curtains and shades during that time. Exterior lights must use long-wavelength bulbs (amber or red, 560 nanometers or greater), in a downward directed fixture that shields the light source from being directly visible from the beach. Pool lights must also be long wavelength and mounted horizontally in the wall.

Last year, Turtle Time documented a record number of disorientations. There were 29 nests that disoriented, leading to hundreds of estimated deaths by hatchlings. During disorientations, sea turtle hatchlings wander away from the Gulf where they need to go to survive and instead can wander into the road or into sewer drains, or fall victim to prey or disorientation.

There were 113 sea turtle nests on Fort Myers Beach but 31 of the nests were washed out by storms and from being in low-lying areas of the beach. About half of the nests experienced some washing out, where eggs were lost.

Other rules that are part of the sea turtle nesting ordinance requires that all beach chairs, umbrellas, tents, and kayaks must be cleared from the beach between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. during nesting season. Beach raking cannot begin before 9 a.m. or before daily nest monitoring by a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission authorized permit holder is complete. No furniture or objects may be placed within ten feet of a marked nest.

Residents are encouraged to visit the Town’s dedicated sea turtle page for information on the specific types of compliant lighting, what compliance looks like for their property, and additional resources to help prepare for the season at, https://fortmyersbeachfl.gov/963/Sea-Turtles