A Guide to Florida’s Coastal Wildlife & Sea Turtle Safety
Florida’s coastline is one of the most important nesting grounds in the world for sea turtles. From the Emerald Coast to the Keys, thousands of Loggerhead, Green, and Leatherback turtles return to our beaches every year to continue a cycle that has lasted for millions of years. However, as our coastal communities grow, so does our "light footprint." For a sea turtle, the wrong light in the wrong place can be a matter of life and death. At 702 Lighting, we believe in coastal stewardship through innovation
The Biological Impact: Why Light Matters
For a sea turtle, light is a compass.
- Nesting Mothers: Mother turtles are easily spooked. Bright white lights can deter them from nesting entirely, leading to "false crawls" where the turtle returns to the sea without laying her eggs.
- Hatchlings: When hatchlings emerge, they naturally crawl toward the brightest horizon—which, on a natural beach, is the moon and stars reflecting off the ocean. Artificial lights inland confuse them, causing them to crawl toward roads, pools, or dunes. This leads to exhaustion, dehydration, and increased risk of predation.
The "Three Golden Rules" of Coastal Lighting
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) promotes three simple principles to ensure your property remains a safe neighbor to the beach:
- Keep it LOW: Fixtures should be mounted as low as possible to the ground while still providing necessary safety lighting.
- Keep it SHIELDED: Use "Full Cutoff" fixtures. The bulb, lamp, or glowing lens should not be visible from the beach. Light should be directed downward, never upward or outward.
- Keep it LONG: Sea turtles are primarily sensitive to short-wavelength light (blues and whites). They are far less likely to be disturbed by long-wavelength light. The magic number is 560 nanometers or higher.
Florida’s Nesting Season: March 1 – October 31
In most Florida coastal counties, strict lighting ordinances go into effect starting March 1st. During these months, any light visible from the beach must comply with "wildlife-safe" standards. For many homeowners, this used to mean living with dim, amber lighting year-round or physically swapping out bulbs twice a year. Now - you can easily switch from TURTLE MODE to 2700K with our patent-pending Magnetic Step Dimming functionality.
The 702 Solution: Conservation Without Compromise
We’ve engineered a way to satisfy both local laws and your personal aesthetic. Our new MSDPRO Series features dual-mode technology, allowing you to prioritize safety when it matters most and beauty when it counts.
MSDPRO Module with TURTLE MODE & MSDPRO 4/5W MR16 with TURTLE MODE
Both of these new products features "TURTLE MODE", which allows you to switch between two distinct settings using a simple magnetic key:
- TURTLE MODE (590-595 nm): Emits a deep, true amber wavelength that is well above the FWC's 560nm threshold. It provides high visibility for humans but remains virtually invisible to nesting turtles and hatchlings.
- 2700K CCT: A warm, elegant white light perfect for the "off-season" (November through February), providing a classic high-end look for your landscape.
Why 590-595 nm?
Not all "amber" lights are created equal. Many "PC Amber" (Phosphor-Converted) bulbs still leak trace amounts of blue or green light that can still disorient wildlife. Our MSDPRO Turtle Mode is precisely tuned to the 590-595 nm range, ensuring a clean, long-wavelength output that meets the strictest coastal requirements in Florida.
Be a Coastal Guardian
Upgrading to wildlife-safe lighting and help ensure that the next generation of sea turtles makes it to the surf. With the 702 Lighting MSDPRO TURTLE MODE series, you can easily help protect the coast!