Light Pollution Threatens Sea Turtle Populations, Starry Night Lights Offers Innovative Solutions
Sea Turtle populations are in decline throughout the United States. All species that inhabit Florida waters are either threatened or endangered. Light pollution is a major contributing factor according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Their salvation may come from the most unlikely of places.
Park City, UT (PRWEB) June 11, 2006 -- Sea Turtle populations are in decline throughout the United States. All species that inhabit Florida waters are either threatened or endangered. Light pollution is a major contributing factor according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Their salvation may come from the most unlikely of places.
High in the mountains of northern Utah, a large and comprehensive collection of sea turtle friendly outdoor lighting solutions is being assembled. From this unlikely location, night sky friendly outdoor lighting specialist, Starry Night Lights (www.StarryNightLights.com) is assembling an industry leading collection of sea turtle friendly outdoor lighting solutions.
Starting from their base of night sky friendly outdoor lighting products, Starry Night Lights has incorporated monochromatic, “turtle friendly” lights into a number of their product offerings. Night sky friendly outdoor lighting requires the use of what is known in the lighting industry as ‘full cut-off’ fixtures. Full cut-off fixtures put all the light they output onto the ground beneath them with none being allowed to shine up into the night sky or horizontally across property lines. It is this horizontal component which is most threatening to sea turtles, as it lights up the beaches that they nest on. This has an immediate impact on sea turtles, because through millions of years of evolution, sea turtle hatchlings have evolved to hatch at night under cover of darkness, and head for the brightest horizon. Historically, this has been towards the ocean as moon light and star light reflect off the water. With the advent of modern lighting, however, the brightest horizon might now be a condominium complex or housing development across the road. Upwards of 80% of sea turtle hatchlings can die on light polluted beaches because they head away from the ocean. The solution is to dramatically cut the amount of light coming from homes and businesses along the beach. To do this, new approaches to outdoor lighting must be used.
“Starry Night Lights sells only full cutoff, night sky friendly outdoor lighting products, so this was a natural starting point us. We’ve taken this one step further for the turtles. It has been discovered through research that sea turtles are less sensitive to longer wavelengths of light. Starry Night Lights has begun bundling our full cutoff fixtures with long wavelength (red) light bulbs. The combination of the two technologies is the least damaging to turtle nesting environments. We've been working with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission to better understand the requirements of turtle friendly lighting, and have created a number of innovative solutions for home owners, businesses and municipalities.” said Anthony Arrigo, Founder and President of Starry Night Lights.
Starry Night Lights, www.StarryNightLights.com, is the leading provider of ordinance compliant, night sky friendly and sea turtle friendly outdoor lighting products. Each and every product offered for sale on their website has been hand picked to meet their special requirements for proper outdoor lighting.
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, www.myfwc.com/seaturtle, manages fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people.
For More Information:
Anthony Arrigo, Starry Night Lights, Anthony@StarryNightLights.com, Tel: 877-604-7377
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