( Image credit: Kent Gilbert, AP / November 18, 2007 )

“Boca Raton’s beaches saw fewer turtles in 2009 than any year since they started keeping records in 1988. Anderson on Sunday gave this year’s final presentation on the nesting season to about 60 people at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. The season officially ends Oct. 31. So far, the beach has seen 361 loggerheads, 21 leatherbacks and 67 green turtles. Whereas Boca Raton beaches saw upward of 900 to 1,000 turtles a year during the early 1990s, so far in 2009, they’ve only had 535, including loggerheads, leatherbacks, green turtles and other types of turtles.”

Why the decline?

Evidence attributing to their decline lies in “commercial fishing, beach development and pollution” as “some of the biggest human factors involved.” Not only do fledgling turtles face the natural danger of predators, fledgling turtles face an artificial non sentient enemy known as light pollution. Light pollution disorients fledgling turtles. These newborn turtles have a natural disposition to move toward light found off of reflective ocean water from the stars above. The glare from the nearby beach streetlights confuse the young turtles and in most cases, alters their life forever. As each year goes by, the average turtle population diminishes. Certainly, a balance in nature exists ensuring at least a certain percentage of turtles to never make it to the sea, but what occurs when that balance becomes an imbalance? Decreased populations and eventually extinction would occur to turtles. Biodiversity is a wonderful thing. Granted, Florida has taken measures to help reduce light pollution and protect these endangered animals, but it isn’t enough. We, at Starry Night Lights, have turtle friendly lighting products that not only assist in reducing light pollution but moreover prevent it from affecting turtles. Residents of Florida, I adduce you inform your local lawmakers about how you feel about this issue.