The City of Madeira Beach is experiencing a very active sea turtle nest season with more than 29 nests established on the city’s 2-miles of sand. This morning a previously undiscovered nest began hatching before sunrise. Several of the hatchlings made their way in the direction of the brightest light they could see which was come from artificial sources leading them away from the Gulf of Mexico.
Sand to Sea volunteers and city public works staff searched the area around the beach access at 130th Ave. and discovered more than 15 hatchlings around the pool area and in the parking lot of the Surf Song condominiums. To protect the turtles, they were removed by hand from the area and directed to the water. It is illegal to touch or impede the hatchlings unless it is to save them from harm, and even then, it should only be done by trained professionals.
The City Commission recently approved more stringent lighting restrictions for buildings facing the beach. Those restrictions are included in section 110 of the municipal code of ordinances and require the following:
- Existing artificial light sources shall be repositioned, modified or replaced with modern alternatives so that only deflected light may be visible at ground level from the beach and/or does not directly illuminate area seaward of the primary dune.
- Light sources that cannot be repositioned, modified or replaced, for whatever reason, shall be turned off from 12:01 a.m. each night until 7:00 a.m. each morning during the period from May 1 to October 31 of each year.
- No artificial public or private light source shall directly illuminate areas seaward of the primary dune where it may deter adult female sea turtles from nesting or disorient hatchlings. The penalty for violating the ordinance can include having to appear before a special magistrate where a fine of at least $250 per day beginning on the date of the original citation can be applied.
For more information, contact Curt Preisser, City of Madeira Beach Public Information Officer at 727-391-9951 x299 or cpreisser@madeirabeachfl.gov.