When the sun goes down, clear the beach and turn out the lights.
Despite improvements made since the beginning of sea turtle nesting season in May, Bradenton Beach property owners still have work to do to make the sea turtle habitat more nest friendly.
The island cities require by ordinance that artificial lighting and items on beaches be eliminated during nesting and hatching season, which is May 1-Oct. 31, because lights and obstacles on the beach can interfere with protected sea turtles.
In policing the shore, Bradenton Beach code enforcement officer Ronald Peterson said he issued four notices related to sea turtle protections, but no citations as of June 16.
Peterson said furniture left on the beach is the biggest issue in the city and most involve four resorts, he said. A lack of turtle-friendly lighting also has been a problem at the resorts.
Peterson declined when asked by The Islander to provide the resort names.
Suzi Fox, executive director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, the volunteer group that monitors and collects data during sea turtle and shorebird nesting seasons, stressed the importance of adhering to the regulations.
Artificial lighting can lead to turtle disorientations and disrupt nesting activity, but lighting also can lead turtles away from the Gulf to death by dehydration, predation or from interaction with vehicles in the road.
“In my opinion, there’s too much light,” Fox said of the area south of the city’s northern border with Holmes Beach to 13th Street South.
But, Fox added, “We’re going to get this under control.”
Peterson is working his first nesting season, having stepped into the code enforcement job April 19 to succeed Gail Garneau, who retired July 31, 2020.
“He is starting from scratch. He’s got to design it,” Fox said.
She added, “He’s a talented man. I think we’re going to be very happy with him.”
Peterson said he has been proactive this season, with regular light checks at night and removing furniture and other gear found on the beach at night.
He said he follows up with property owners the next morning.
Looking north from Bradenton Beach, Fox said Holmes Beach has improved in terms of its beaches being turtle-friendly, despite some violations, and Anna Maria does not have a huge lighting problem.
Anna Maria did have a problem with disorientations in May, when Fox suspected someone was videoing turtles at night.
When asked if Bradenton Beach will be safer for sea turtles by the time nests start to hatch in July, Peterson said he is hopeful.
For more information on sea turtles, go to AMITW’s website at islandturtlewatch.com or call Fox at 941-778-5638.
