Sea turtles on FMB
To the editor:
In Sunday’s News-Press, August 2, the good news/bad news story about this year’s sea turtle nesting season was interesting yet disturbing. Disturbing because Fort Myers Beach cannot get their act together. Again and again and again.
A sea turtle nest damaged or destroyed by natural causes such as being washed out by high tides is sadly acceptable. But when a sea turtle nest is compromised due to someone’s willful carelessness such as in this case where hatchlings were disoriented by the surrounding lights from beach front property owners, lights from Time Square and a little dress shop is appalling. Perhaps this could have been prevented with proper code enforcement.
Turtle Time Inc. whose volunteers monitor the beaches on Fort Myers Beach, Bunche Beach and south to the Lee-Collier county line are stewards of the beaches they monitor. The volunteers help educate and promote awareness to those who are curious about what they are doing. Locals,visitors, adults and children are thrilled a what we have here on OUR beaches.
But, beach property owners, businesses, property managers and landlords could do more. Those that can do more know who they are and what they don’t want to do or ignore to do. The town is not proactive enough on code enforcement. I believe the Town’s code enforcement personnel does the best job they can but I wonder if their hands are tied making them less effective. By May 1 of every year residences and businesses need to be in compliance with the lighting ordinances. Did code enforcement address the lighting problem from the dress shop and lights in Times Square? If so, there should not have been lighting issues. Maybe some businesses should be fined?
For that matter Turtle Time Inc. has not done enough either. In past years they have been too quiet about releasing bad news reports and identifying the properties that have had nests trampled on, beach furniture obstructing a crawl or serious lighting issues. Turtle Timers want to be the nice guys. Trusting that the overall good will prevail in each of us and people will do the right thing and follow the rules. Get real Turtle Timers. It does not work that way.
So, what do we do?
Donna Lybold
Fort Myers Beach