Longboat officials provide update on sea turtle nesting ordinance violations

With sea turtle nesting season nearing its halfway point, Deputy Police Chief Frank Rubino delivered an update to Longboat Key officials regarding compliance with the town’s sea turtle nesting ordinance.

The town revised its ordinance last year, making this nesting season the first where the new laws are being enforced.

Six months before the season began, town officials started working to educate Longboaters about the changes to the ordinance. These efforts included visiting every condo property along the beach, delivering educational brochures and hosting a workshop in April. 

Requirements for properties to comply during turtle nesting season, which began on May 1 and ends October 31, include:

• No outdoor light source, such as a bulb, shall be visible from the beach. Any visible outdoor light source must be shielded with a downlight fixture.
• Both outdoor light bulbs and their fixtures must meet the standards of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. For a list of bulbs and fixtures that meet these standards, click here.
• Interior light sources, meaning lights inside of buildings, shall not be visible from the beach. Measures that can be taken to block these light sources include covering windows with blinds or tint.
• All non-permanent structures, such as beach furniture, must be removed from the beach between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. These structures must be placed as close to the duneline as possible. In areas without vegetation, structures must be placed as close as practicable to an existing permanent structure, such as a building, or building line.
• Code enforcement officers may survey the beach for violations on any night.

For the town’s complete turtle nesting season ordinance, click here.

According to Rubino’s update from July 24, Code Enforcement Officer Chris Elbon has performed 17 nighttime inspections this season, while Community Service Specialist Ivan Zunz has performed four additional inspections.

There have been 12 documented cases of beach obstructions, such as chairs and umbrellas. Of the 12, nine were issued 24-hour tags, which resulted in eight cases coming into compliance. In the case where compliance was not met, officers removed and impounded the furniture. One property was issued a courtesy notice while two resulted in written cases.

As for lighting violations, 11 cases have been opened. Seven have been closed with voluntary compliance. Two are active, meaning officers are working with the property managers or owners to bring the properties into compliance. Two properties have not complied and have been issued notices of violation.

As part of a FWC project, Elbon surveyed the beach in May and July and documented 136 cases where lights were visible from the beach, resulting in the town sending 116 letters to property owners, along with educational brochures, alerting them of the situation. Twenty streetlights were also noted as visible, and Key Public Works has been instructed to work with Florida Power and Light to address the issue.

The town has received a total of 230 email complaints from Turtle Watch, other volunteers, residents and visitors. Town Manager Dave Bullock said all complaints result in code enforcement officers contacting property owners or managers.