Q: Will  lights around my property affect turtles?

A:
Yes, if lights from your property can be seen on the beach,  it will discourage adult turtles from nesting and cause disorientation of turtle hatchlings, often resulting in death. It is estimated that in Barbados, about 75% of hatchlings are disorientated on the south coast and about 90% on the west coast.

Q: How can I illuminate my property and its surroundings without discouraging nesting or disorienting hatchlings?

A:
The following tips will help to reduce lighting problems for turtles:

• Turn lights off whenever possible during the nesting season (May-October).
  
• Keep the number of lights to the absolute minimum necessary for safety or security.
  
• Avoid positioning lights so that they shine directly towards the beach. For example, keep them on the landward side of tree trunks.
  
• Position light fixtures as low as possible (no higher than 2.4m/8 feet) and direct light downwards. This can be achieved by purchasing a lighting fixture with full shade or by using ceramic sconces.
  
• Use motion sensitive lights, so that they are off for most of the night and only turn on when needed.
  
• Use Low Pressure Sodium (LPS bulbs 18 watts or less - orange/red) or red, orange or amber-coloured LEDs.
  

For more information about the selection and positioning of lights, see the Beachfront Lighting section of the Manual of Best Practices for Safeguarding Sea Turtle Nesting Beaches. Assessments of problematic lights at four hotels in Barbados with recommendations for more turtle-friendly lighting solutions can be found in Appendices V-VIII of In the Spotlight: An Assessment of Beachfront Lighting at Four Hotels in Barbados with Recommendations for Reducing Threats to Sea Turtles.

There are lots of examples of turtle-friendly lights provided by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Suppliers of LEDs in Barbados can be found in the Yellow Pages under “LED Lighting”. Sea turtle friendly and salt-resistant fixtures can also be sourced at Sea Turtle Lighting and Ameritech Lighting.

Q: How can I ensure that our guests see turtles nesting and hatching without causing harm to the turtles or disrupting the nesting process?

A:
There are many things that beachfront developers can do to ensure continued coexistence with healthy sea turtle populations. These include using appropriate lighting (see above), avoiding obstacles to nesting on the beach (e.g. permanent structures like walls and boulders, and ensuring that items like beach chairs are stacked away) and preserving native beach vegetation.

For more information about managing a turtle friendly beach, see the Beach Maintenance section of the Manual of Best Practices for Safeguarding Sea Turtle Nesting Beaches. Information is also available in our guide for beachfront property owners; Protecting Beaches: Turning the Tide for Sea Turtles and its short companion video.