Artificial lights near the shore deter females from coming onto beaches to nest. Hatchlings emerging from the nest become disorientated by nearby lights resulting in them moving away from the ocean instead of towards it, and often leading them to their deaths.

Sea Turtle Foundation is working with local councils and community members along the Queensland coast to adjust lighting so that its impact on turtles is reduced or removed. Simple changes like turning off  unnecessary lights or drawing curtains to cover windows at night can be enough to remove this problem. In other cases planting a screen of vegetation or shading the light on the beach-side may be required.

Sea Turtles and Lights – Public information brochure
Sea Turtle Foundation has produced an information brochure to inform beach front communities how they can help sea turtles by adjusting their lights. The brochure was distrubuted to households in Queensland and New South Wales (Australia) before the 2008/09 nesting season. Copies are available by contacting us or a pdf version can be found here.