Did you know the moon plays a vital role in the lives of sea turtles? For millions of years, sea turtles have used moonlight to guide their reproductive behaviors. Female turtles use the moonlight to locate beaches for laying their eggs. Once the eggs hatch, the baby turtles use the moon’s reflection on the ocean to find their way back to the sea!
Artificial lights along the beach can confuse sea turtle hatchlings. They cause them to wander toward danger instead of heading to the ocean. This reduces their chances of survival, and impacts the overall population health.
What can we do to help these magnificent creatures?
The good news is that light pollution is reversible and manageable. We can reduce light pollution on beaches by making sure any lights are:
- low to the ground
- as dim as possible
- red or amber in colour (because sea turtles can’t see long wavelengths very well!)
- blocked by physical shields that direct the light downwards
Why should we put in this effort? As you’ve seen, life in marine ecosystems is very interconnected. Protecting sea turtles isn’t just about preventing their extinction; it’s about preserving an entire ecosystem that humans also depend on!