Sea Turtle Safe Lighting
Save the Sea Turtles! Turtle-Safe Lights for Florida’s
As spring arrives and ocean waters warm off Florida’s beaches, locals and tourists gather to watch female sea turtles crawl from the ocean at night to lay their eggs. Some sixty days later, baby turtles hatch and make their way down to the water. On-lookers are cautioned not to shine flashlights, camera lights or cellphones on the hatchlings as they make their way through the sand to safety. Community ordinances may require turning off artificial lights at night during certain times of year as not to disturb maturing eggs and turtle hatchlings.
This annual occurrence is a sight to behold. But if you live and play on the beach at night, the lack of artificial light can cause problems. American Electric – Jacksonville now offers a way to save the turtles and keep the lights on around hotels, beach access walkways and commercial and residential beach properties.
Turtle Lighting protects the six turtle species found in the United States. According to the North Florida Ecological Services Office, all six turtle species are designated as either threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
We Meet County Codes for Installing Turtle Lights and Turtle-Safe Lighting Systems
American Electric – Jacksonville can install Turtle Lighting approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Sea Turtle Protection Ordinances for Florida beaches can be found online through the FWC and includes language that pertains to Beach Lighting as it affects sea turtles. We have contracted with hotels and beachfront communities to install Turtle-Safe Lights. Our expert electrical technicians can illuminate your Commercial or Residential Property to meet all ordinances and codes.
For existing structures, we can replace pole lamps with “low level, low profile luminaries so that the light source or any reflective surface of the light fixture is not visible from the beach” as described, for example, within Ord. No. 2000-7789, § 1, 5-15-00 of the Jacksonville Beach, Florida Code of Ordinances. This ordinance requires, as well, replacing “incandescent, fluorescent and high intensity lighting with the lowest wattage low pressure sodium vapor light possible for the specific application.” Let American Electric – Jacksonville ensure that your Commercial or Residential Beach Property meets all code requirements for Beach Lighting.
Turtle Lighting is a win-win-win for humans, communities and, most important, the turtles!
Discover more about Turtle Lighting and other Lighting Solutions by calling our friendly, turtle-loving customer service team!