Sea-turtle lighting fines begin

It’s that time of year again.

The Longboat Key Code Enforcement Board always hears multiple cases of sea-turtle lighting violations in the summer months. Its June regular meeting served as the kick-off for the violation season.

Town code states that no artificial light can illuminate any area of the town’s beach during sea-turtle nesting season, which runs from May to October. All lights must be shielded, dimmed, turned off or replaced with turtle-friendly red lights during this period.

At its Monday, June 13 regular meeting, the code board reviewed a list of four sea-turtle lighting violations that included:

• Four Winds Resort, 2605 Gulf of Mexico Drive
• Buttonwood Cove, 3660 Gulf of Mexico Drive
• Longboat Terrace, 5391 Gulf of Mexico Drive
• Gerald Pies, the owner of a single-family home at 6401 Gulf of Mexico Drive

In all four cases, Longboat Key code-enforcement officer Heidi Micale noted that the violators had lights illuminating the beach area and the lights could be seen from the beach.

Bright, white lights can disorient sea turtles and prevent them from nesting. The bright lights can also disorient hatchlings and cause them to head toward the light instead of the Gulf of Mexico.

All four violators entered into stipulations and agreed to take the necessary steps to correct the problem. By entering into stipulations, the violators avoided the assessment of administrative fees.

However, if the violators repeat the violation in the future, they are subject to a fine of up to $500 per day.
It’s the town’s hope that there has been enough education about sea-turtle lighting in recent years that the violations won’t increase.

So far, no fines have been imposed against sea turtle violators in 2011.
That hasn’t been the case in past years.

In 2008, Longboat Key Towers, 601 Longboat Club Road, was levied a $500 fine after the code board was told the condominium’s bright lights led to the demise of 100 loggerhead sea-turtle hatchlings.
Sand Cay Beach Resort had to pay a $600 fine that same year for multiple lighting violations.