Mayor Sweeney and county specialist urge dimming beachfront lights as sea turtle season opens

Mayor Beth Sweeney and Maggie Belloitz, an environmental program specialist with St. John's County, urged residents of the City of St. Augustine Beach on Mondays with the Mayor to reduce artificial beachfront lighting and follow several simple precautions after sea turtle nesting season began May 1.

"Our sea turtle season has officially begun," Belloitz said, noting county staff patrol beaches nightly through Oct. 31 to monitor nests and assist hatchlings. She said coastal lighting and beach obstructions can disorient nesting females and newly hatched turtles.

Belloitz explained why lighting matters: "Sea turtles rely on the celestial light reflecting off of the ocean in order to properly orient themselves towards the water," she said. To reduce harm to hatchlings, she advised residents to keep outside lights low to the ground, fully shield fixtures so light is directed downward, and choose long-wavelength bulbs in red, amber or orange hues.

The county is also restricting beach driving after dark. "Starting on May 1st as well, we are locking the beach driving gates. So at 7:30 p.m. if you're a beach driver, make sure you're off the beach," Belloitz said. She added that county staff will fill holes, knock down sandcastles and rake tire ruts near nests that are close to hatching.

Belloitz urged people who encounter marked nests to leave them undisturbed and to remove beach furniture or other obstructions when they leave the shoreline. She also recommended using red flashlights rather than white lights when walking on the beach at night to avoid disrupting turtle navigation.

Mayor Sweeney thanked Belloitz for the information and encouraged residents to watch for nests and follow the guidance. The county’s nightly monitoring runs through Oct. 31; Belloitz described the measures as part of routine seasonal protections rather than a legislative action.