- September 13, 2024
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Sea turtle hatchlings are emerging all over Florida’s coast this summer but, on Longboat Key, lighting violations continue to cause issues for the animals.
The St. Regis Longboat Key, which celebrated a soft opening with an unveiling ceremony on Aug. 16, has had some difficulties throughout the summer with the town of Longboat Key’s sea turtle lighting ordinances.
According to Director of Planning, Zoning and Building Allen Parsons, the resort has received 15 citations since May 10, totaling $6,850 in fines.
As Parsons describes it, the violations have been “different lights on different nights.” Code Enforcement officers patrol Longboat’s beaches regularly and have noticed that the source of the St. Regis’s lighting issues has been inconsistent.
The issues are sometimes with hotel and condominium units, overhead pool lighting or lights on top of buildings that aren’t compliant with the town’s ordinances.
Throughout August, Vice President of Longboat Key Turtle Watch Cyndi Seamon communicated with town commissioners to raise concerns about the lighting violations, especially since the violations are continuing during a peak time of sea turtle hatching.
In her emails, Seamon shared that she heard from volunteers from Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium that hatchling disorientations happened at the St. Regis property. She also stressed that the town’s sea turtle ordinances are in effect until Oct. 31, and nests are continuing to emerge on the island.
Mote personnel confirmed that there have been three “large groups of disorientations” at the St. Regis this summer.
Staff with Parson’s department have reached out to St. Regis management, but Parsons said that management did not provide any insight into how compliance would be reached.
In a written statement to the Observer, the St. Regis management said that property staff are working with the town toward a solution.
“At The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, we are dedicated to environmental conservation and protecting local wildlife, particularly sea turtles,” the statement said. “The hotel was constructed in compliance with state and federal lighting standards regulations, and we exceed standard code requirements. Our ownership, Unicorp National Developments, and our team are actively collaborating with the Longboat Key Authorities to address any lighting concerns and enhance our practices to eliminate any effect on nesting activities.”
On Aug. 16, the town issued the St. Regis a “notice of violation,” a formal notice that elevates the code enforcement approach. It was issued, Parsons said, because multiple violations have occurred with no compliance, so the department is moving to a different enforcement pathway.
This could mean the St. Regis faces a hearing with the town’s special magistrate in September if compliance isn’t reached by then. The hearing is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 11 and, according to Parsons, the special magistrate could levy fines of up to $500 per day.
If compliance isn’t reached after the special magistrate approach, Parsons said the property could face having a lien placed on it. There is also the potential for the fines to be elevated to the county court level, similar to what happened in 2019 with the Zota Beach Resort.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, disorientations occur when sea turtles become confused by artificial light when trying to make it back to the ocean. Although disorientations can affect both adult and hatchling sea turtles, disorientations can be especially detrimental to hatchlings.
Hatchlings use light patterns to navigate toward the gulf, and artificial light up the beach can cause them to become confused. When they lose their way, the hatchlings can become tired, dehydrated and more susceptible to predation, the FWC states.
If hatchlings become disoriented and end up further up the shore, they may exhaust the energy required for them to reach the sargassum belt in the open water. The hatchlings rely on getting to this seaweed clutter to provide protection and food during their early stages.
Depending on the severity of the disorientation and how much time has passed, hatchlings may be taken to Mote to regain strength before being returned to the ocean.
Sea turtle nesting season in Florida lasts from May 1 to Oct. 31, and the town’s sea turtle-related ordinances apply until Oct. 31. This includes having sea turtle-friendly lighting — or proper tint and shielding — and keeping beaches free of debris.
Longboat Key Turtle Watch also recently had a late-nester on the island — a green sea turtle, which is less common than the loggerhead sea turtle.
Mote and Longboat Key Turtle Watch emphasized the importance of adhering to the lighting ordinances and keeping beaches dark for hatchlings as they continue to emerge throughout the remainder of the sea turtle nesting season.
