Sea Turtle Conservation

​​​Sea Turtle Nesting Season is May 1 through Oct. 31


To report a dead, injured, or disoriented sea turtle, contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 888-404-3922.

Each summer, Florida’s beaches, including more than 40 miles in Lee County, become nesting grounds for threatened and endangered sea turtles. Females return at night to the same beaches where they hatched, laying eggs that will incubate for about two months. Hatchlings emerge at night and rely on the natural glow of the ocean horizon to find the water quickly, which is essential for survival. Artificial lighting disrupts this ancient process. 

Lights visible from the beach can:
  • Deter females from nesting or affect how they return to the water.
  • Disorient hatchlings, sending them inland or making them unable to reach the water.
  • Cause fatal dehydration, predation, exhaustion, or roadway deaths.

Sea Turtle Nesting Season Regulations

The Lee County Land Development Code includes two divisions to protect nesting sea turtles, hatchlings, and their habitat: Ch. 14, Article II, Div. 2 - Sea Turtle Conservation and Ch. 14, Article II, Div. 5 - Beach and Dune Management. New construction must submit lighting plans as a part of the permitting process, and existing structures may be inspected for compliance. Violations can result in Code Enforcement action.

From May 1 through October 31, between 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., all beach residents and visitors must:

  • Close blinds or curtains. 
    • Although tinted glass is required on all new construction, it is not always strong enough on its own to effectively block the light emitted by modern LED lights. Additional shielding with window coverings is often required. Interior lights should not be visible from the beach.
  • Turn off decorative uplighting on buildings and landscaping.
  • Shield, lower, redirect, or turn off all point sources of light visible from the beach.
  • Lights must be directed downward. 
    • Use fully shielded fixtures to prevent the bulb, lamp, or glowing lens from being visible from the beach.
  • Use low intensity amber, orange, or red colored LED lights. 
    • Sea turtles are less disturbed by the long wavelengths of light (570 nanometers or longer). The LDC also allows 25-watt yellow bug bulbs.
  • Remove all beach furniture and equipment from the beach each night. 
    • Beach furniture and other equipment may prevent turtles from reaching a suitable nesting location. Sea turtles may even become entangled, which can lead to injuries or death from exhaustion or drowning.
  • Avoid using flashlights or flash photography while on the beach at night.
  • Motorized vehicles and open fires are prohibited on the beach.
  • It is against the law to touch or disturb nesting sea turtles, hatchlings, or their nests. 

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