PLEASE DO NOT USE FLASHLIGHTS OR PHONE LIGHTS ON THE BEACH

During the nightly patrols that Town staff have been conducting to monitor sea turtle nesting regulations, dozens of white flashlights and phone lights have been observed. These lights disorient nesting sea turtles and their hatchlings. 

 During sea turtle nesting season it important to keep the beach dark. Flashlights and phone lights keep sea turtles from nesting properly and hatchlings from making their way to Gulf after they leave the nest.

 Town staff have been distributing long wavelength flashlights to beachgoers provided by the Marine and Environmental Resources Task Force (MERTF) to educate about the lights that are permissible.