|
Help find the sea
Grant monies available for turtle lighting
By Julie B. Connerley Splash!
The Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) has teamed up with the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension (IFAS) to coordinate a turtle friendly beach program on Pensacola Beach.
The effort really began in September 2003, when the SRIA received a grant from the U.S. Department of Interior's Fish and
Wildlife Service for monies to
"facilitate recovery of federally protected sea turtles."
The purpose of the two-year agreement is to provide an incentive to beachfront property owners on Pe n s a c o l a Beach to implement sea turtle compatible lighting.
"Property owners would be assisted with the costs of lighting fixtures, w i n d o w glass/tinting/coverings, and/or installation," explained Debbie Norton, SRIA M a n a g e r , Environmental and D eve l o p m e n t a l Services Department.
"Funding allocation would be based on the location of documented lighting disorientations that have been identified as current or p o t e n t i a l problems."
"Four species of sea turtles have been documented nesting on Santa Rosa Island," said Gulf Islands National Seashore Park Biologist, Mark Nicholas.
"They include the Loggerhead, Green, Leatherback, and extremely rare Kemp's Ridleys.
"Loggerhead turtles comprise over 90 percent of the nesting in Florida. Genetic studies have shown that Loggerhead turtles nesting on the Gulf coast compose a different sub-population than the east coast, so it is important to implement effective sea turtle friendly lighting conditions in this area."
On the Atlantic coast of Florida, enacting effective lighting ordinances on major nesting beaches are high priority actions delineated in the Recovery Plan for Loggerhead turtles. Until Escambia County considers adopting a beachfront lighting ordinance, this grant will seek to resolve current lighting problems.
During 2004, Norton, along with Andrew P. Diller, Marine Extension Agent, Florida Sea Grant, University of Florida, and Robert Turpin, Chief, Escambia County Marine Resources Division, spent considerable time surveying Pensacola Beach and its current shoreline lighting conditions.
Upon emerging from their underground nests, newly hatched sea turtles instinctively head for the lights of the stars reflected off the surface of the water where they will spend the rest of their lives. Only females return to shore, to dig nests and lay their eggs after many years at sea.
Unfortunately, the lights of convenience stores and other commercial businesses as well as high rises and single-family homes can disorient the hatchlings and they can turn towards those lights instead of the water. Their fate is then sealed.
"They become prey for a variety of animals, get run over by cars, or dry out when the sun rises," explained Diller. "One light visible from the beach can lead hundreds of hatchlings to their death."
The survey identified several potential recipients for grant monies and those condominiums and at least one motel were approached about the turtle-friendly project. But Hurricane Ivan interrupted the process and everything changed.
The grant is set to expire June 30, 2005. The SRIA is expected to request an extension due to extenuating circumstances. Most of the businesses surveyed are no longer there, and some have not yet begun rebuilding efforts.
The good news is that Diller's grant monies, awarded from the Sea Turtle Grants Program through the proceeds from the sale of Florida Sea Turtle License Plates still has one more year before it expires.
"Our plan," said Diller, "was to combine the SRIA's retro-fitting lighting program with my Turtle Friendly Beach Program. The more people who become aware of the need to 'share the beach' with sea turtles, the greater the chance of survival for these endangered species."
Some key points to remember during sea turtle nesting season, besides minimizing outdoor lighting, and closing curtains after dark include: remove or consolidate beach furniture and recreational equipment at night so it doesn't interfere with nesting females. Avoid building fires on the beach at night.
Fill in large holes dug in the sand that could trap adult or hatchling turtles. Properly dispose of plastic bags, balloons and debris that may be mistaken in the water as food (jellyfish) by sea turtles. Recycle or dispose of excess fishing line that can entangle and drown turtles and kill other marine animals.
Use boardwalks instead of walking across sand dunes to protect vegetation that stabilizes the dune systems. Besides protecting the human development on the Island, dunes block artificial lighting from turtle nesting areas.
"Most importantly," concluded Diller, "if you encounter a nesting sea turtle or hatchlings, remain still and observe quietly. No flashlights or flash photography!"
To report a nest location on Santa Rosa Island, call GINS dispatch at 916-3010 or the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission hotline at 1-888-404-FWCC."
| 
