Town to host sea turtle lighting workshop

The Sea Turtle Conservancy, in partnership with the Town of Longboat Key, will  host  a lighting workshop   in the Town Commission Chambers at Town Hall at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 5.

The hourlong workshop will be geared toward the general public as part of the town’s education efforts for the upcoming sea turtle nesting season, which lasts from May 1 through October 31.

Code Enforcement Officer Chris Elbon said the workshop will include a discussion about how to best comply with the Key’s new lighting ordinance during turtle nesting season. The ordinance was updated in July of last year.

The ordinance now requires that lighting fixtures and bulbs meet the standards of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Elbon said.

Elbon said he hopes to dispel some misconceptions regarding turtle-friendly lighting. Other topics will include biology of sea turtles and why lighting ordinances are necessary.

A turtle-friendly lighting station is also set up at Town Hall, providing information about how Key residents can prepare for turtle-nesting season.

Check out the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's certified lighting page by clicking here.