Sea Turtle Nesting Season and Beyond
Sea Turtle Conservation on Fort Myers Beach: 2025/26 Update
In 2022, the Town adopted updated Sea Turtle Conservation regulations to reduce light pollution and protect nesting sea turtles and hatchlings. These rules remain in effect and are especially important as we look at the outcomes of the 2025 nesting season across Southwest Florida.
What the Rules Require
All windows and doors, including sliders, are required to:
Have a Light Transmittance (LT) of 45 percent or less
AND have a window covering installed
Residents and property owners are encouraged to review the Sea Turtle Conservation Ordinance to ensure compliance.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
The 2025 sea turtle nesting season in Southwest Florida showed strong nesting numbers, but also revealed serious challenges in hatchling survival, particularly related to artificial lighting and human activity.
Across parts of Southwest Florida, monitoring organizations reported:
Record-high disorientation events, where hatchlings moved inland instead of toward the Gulf
Significant losses tied to visible beachfront lighting, even in areas with existing regulations
High rates of nest failure and hatchling mortality, despite strong nesting activity
These findings make one thing clear: nesting success alone is not enough. If lights remain visible from the beach, too many hatchlings do not survive the journey to the water.
This season showed that, as a region, we need to do better.
How You Can Help Protect Sea Turtles
Reduce Light Pollution
Artificial light is one of the leading causes of hatchling disorientation. To help:
Turn off unnecessary lights at night
Use turtle-friendly exterior lighting, including:
Long-wavelength, wildlife-friendly bulbs
Downward-directed fixtures
Lights mounted low to the ground
Fully shielded fixtures not visible from the beach
Block interior lights from beach view by:
Using blackout curtains or shades
Setting a reminder to close curtains by 9:00 p.m.
Moving interior lights away from windows
Installing windows with a Light Transmittance rating of 30 percent or less, where possible
Keep the Beach Clear
Remove beach furniture and personal items before leaving
Fill in holes and flatten sand to keep paths clear for nesting turtles and hatchlings
If You See a Sea Turtle
Do not disturb the turtle
Avoid lights, flash photography, and noise
Quietly back away and allow her to nest and return to the ocean safely
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy turtle-friendly bulbs?
The Sea Turtle Conservancy provides a list of approved retailers:
https://conserveturtles.org/beachfront-lighting-turtle-friendly-fixtures-lights/
How do I know if a bulb or fixture is turtle-friendly?
Look for the FWC Wildlife Lighting Certification on the packaging. This certification confirms the product meets wildlife-friendly lighting standards.
https://myfwc.com/conservation/you-conserve/lighting/criteria/certified/
Can I use yellow “bug lights” or colored party lights?
No. Although these bulbs may appear compliant, they emit short-wavelength light that sea turtles are sensitive to and can cause disorientation.
Do I need curtains if I already have tinted turtle glass?
Yes. Glass with 45 percent light transmittance alone does not sufficiently block interior light. Window coverings are required, and blackout curtains are strongly recommended.
Our Commitment Moving Forward
The 2025 season made it clear that protecting sea turtles requires consistent compliance, shared responsibility, and continued education. Fort Myers Beach is committed to improving outcomes by reinforcing lighting standards, increasing awareness, and working with residents to reduce disorientation events.
Every light turned off, every curtain closed, and every effort to keep beaches dark and clear makes a difference. Together, we can do better and ensure Fort Myers Beach remains a safe nesting place for sea turtles for generations to come.