Page 512 - The British Big Four

Threats to turtle nesting: Where can I buy ‘turtle-friendly’ lights and how Marine Turtles and The plight of the marine
much will it cost me? Lighting Management turtle in Cayman.
OLighting – areas where lighting is visible from the
Location The Problem: ‘Las Tortugas’, the Spanish for turtles, was the name
beach are not suitable for marine turtle nesting or for A .L.Th om pson s Artificial lighting disrupts typically nocturnal first given to the Cayman Islands when they were
hatchling emergence behaviour. nesting behaviour, decreasing suitable nesting discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1503. The
Kirks habitat and confusing and disorienting name was chosen because the islands were said to be
OSea walls – Any hardened structure whether sandbags Phillips hatchling turtles, preventing them from “full of tortoises, as was all the sea about, insomuch
Electrical reaching the sea. that they look’d like little rocks”. Declared extinct in
or concrete walls, removes nesting habitat from marine 1900 by the International Union for the Conservation
turtles by physically impeding access. M anufactu rer The solution: for Nature, recent research by the Department of
As few lights as practical should be used, and Environment shows that although the Cayman Islands
OBeach equipment – All beach equipment left on the W estinghouse for essential lighting, long-wave light sources can once again provide the conditions to establish,
Abco should replace more disruptive light sources. maintain and support a resident population of wild
beach overnight can block access to nesting turtles Using lights of minimal wattage that are marine turtles, certain steps must be taken today to
coming ashore or hatchlings trying to reach the ocean, Abco housed within well-directed fixtures aimed ensure adequate nesting habitat remains. Marine turtles
down and away from the beach will reduce today are a symbol of Cayman’s history, culture and
ORemoval of vegetation – Loss of vegetation between General intensity. Motion-sensors should be fitted heritage, and are highly valued by tourists and
Electric wherever possible and native vegetation residents, who perceive sighting of wild marine turtles
property and beach increases the amount of light that Phillips should be planted between properties and the as a very special experience.
reaches the beach from the property, and removes the sea, to further reduce the amount of light that
vegetative cover, under which many turtles, in particular Type reaches the beach. Today, almost all threats to marine turtles and their
hawksbills, prefer to nest. nesting beaches are the result of coastal development.
HPS Department of Environment, Grand Cayman Massively increased numbers of people live on or near
OBeach cleaning – Machines that clean and condition the coast, and tourism targets these areas specifically.
Bug-
the sand have rotating sieves that reach down beneath the light This drain on nesting grounds is a major factor
surface of the sand. These can destroy eggs laid in affecting the re-establishment of a wild nesting marine
shallow nests, or crush hatchlings escaping from nests. Flood turtle population in Cayman today. It is a problem
bug- faced by many areas throughout the region, and one
light that has been effectively dealt with in some of these
Bug- places, for example in Florida. The negative impact on
Light wild nesting marine turtle populations must be taken
seriously and addressed in a comprehensive plan for
HPS recovery. This brochure addresses the problems
associated with artificial lighting and marine turtle
W attage nesting behaviour, and looks at how you can help.
150
60/25

100/60
180
through
18

Price

$24.00
$2.60
2pk
$7.35

$1.95
2pk
Varies

Flashlight beam com m ents

W here
necessary

Not all in
stock but can
order sizes
and shapes
for different
fittings

Product
no.

36867-0
36869-6
36872-0
36874-6
36876-1
36877-9
36879-5
36881-1
36883-7

Direction of the ocean