Lights out.
Action.
Sea turtle nesting season officially begins May 1 and with it comes the enforcement of measures intended to safeguard nesting female sea turtles — mostly loggerheads on AMI — and the hatchlings that eventually emerge from the beachfront nests left to incubate on their own.
The southeastern United States hosts the world’s largest nesting aggregation of loggerhead turtles and AMI sees its share.
To protect the nesting activity, regulations require dark beaches clear of obstacles at night.
Beachfront, near-beach residents and visitors are reminded to:
- Close curtains.
- Turn out lights along the shore or use turtle-friendly fixtures and bulbs.
- Fill holes in the sand.
- Remove beach gear by dusk.