After hatching, baby sea turtles head to the brightest light they see. Under normal conditions this instinct directs them to the moon which in turn leads the turtles to the ocean. However, artificial lights (Light Pollution) from beachfront houses will confuse the turtles and cause them to head in the wrong direction. When these turtles head away from the ocean and to artificial lights, they lose their chance of survival.

To prevent sea turtle deaths caused by light confusion, light ordinances in nearby Jacksonville Beach and Neptune Beach require that beachfront houses must turn off all lights when sea turtles are hatching. Failure to comply results in fines. Ordinances like these prevent thousands of sea turtle deaths each year. Unfortunately, my community of Atlantic Beach does not have this city ordinance. I have seen the effects of this firsthand. I have seen the bodies of baby sea turtles eaten alive by crabs. They never had a chance at life all because homeowners did not turn off their lights during hatching. This becomes all the more frustrating because there is a simple solution to end the tragedy.

We demand the city of Atlantic Beach, Florida to implement a mandatory sea turtle protection light ordinance, including enforcement, equal to those in neighboring Jacksonville and Neptune Beach. The ordinance is needed to protect the endangered and threatened sea turtles who use Atlantic Beach to nest and hatch a vital new generation. Help me get the word out and give these little babies a fighting chance to live -- sign and share the petition today.