To protect endangered sea turtles which nest on local beaches and the hatchlings which come from those nests, Town Ordinance requires all oceanfront property owners to ensure that their lights are not visible from the beach anytime from March 1st through October 31st.
Artificial lighting confuses the sea turtle hatchlings causing them to veer off course from their intended destination, which should be directly to the Atlantic Ocean. It is believed that the resulting disorientation of sea turtle hatchlings from artificial lighting sources is a major cause in the decline of sea turtle populations worldwide.
To comply with the “lights out” policy, oceanfront property owners are required to shield or redirect any artificial lights illuminating any area of the beach or water that may be used by nesting sea turtles and hatchlings, or simply turn off the lights during the period of March 1st through October 31st.
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