Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Sea Turtle Nesting And Lighting topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Task force reports sea turtle activity, urges dark‑sky lighting and warns about monofilament hazards
Summary
Town staff reported 37 sea turtle nests, 150 false crawls and 38 obstructed nesting attempts to the task force; members discussed lights on beachfront structures, construction lighting, FWC enforcement and risks from monofilament line to marine animals following a recent dolphin entanglement.
Town staff told the Marine and Environmental Resources Task Force on June 11 that Fort Myers Beach has 37 confirmed sea turtle nests to date, about 150 false crawls, and 38 obstructed nesting attempts, several linked to the dredging pipe and at least one to a retaining wall. Chad, the town staff member providing the update, urged property owners, contractors and visitors to follow the town lighting standards and the town’s turtle conservation code as nesting and hatching season proceeds.
Chad said properties seaward of Estero Boulevard must use amber lighting and fixtures that shield and direct light downward where lights are visible from the beach. He noted the town has been working with property owners and businesses—citing improvements from community compliance—and that contractors and landlord construction sites should avoid bright perpetual floodlighting that can disorient hatchlings. Chad said the town has requested assistance from Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) law enforcement for holiday periods to deter fireworks that would disturb nests and hatchlings in sensitive areas.
Committee members also raised public safety concerns about monofilament fishing line. One member recounted a dolphin rescued by several people that later died and said it was entangled in monofilament; members urged proper disposal and cautioned about bait buckets and floating containers tied to monofilament lines near the shoreline. Chad said he would consult FWC on whether the specific buoy‑and‑bait arrangement described is prohibited and would follow up with regulatory guidance.
No regulatory changes were adopted at the June 11 meeting; staff asked the public to follow existing lighting and turtle‑protection codes and to remove or securely store fishing line.
