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Turtles outlived the dinosaurs and have existed for more than 200 million years. Yet today, their population is in decline. With around half of all species threatened with extinction, they are one of the most endangered groups in the animal world. The reasons for the decline are numerous. They include poaching and overharvesting, habitat destruction, climate change, and bycatch.
Adult turtles nest and hatchlings normally emerge on beaches at night. Bright lights on coastal-facing buildings and vessels can screen out the moon and stars, removing the dark shade of dunes and the brightness of the ocean that hatchlings need to navigate their way to the sea. Also, bright artificial lights often deter adult females from nesting on the beach, resulting in fewer nests.
“There is growing awareness of the need to preserve night skies and protect wildlife,” said Marlon Iversen, Product Manager for Exterior Lighting at the Marine, Offshore & Wind Division of Glamox. “We know that long-wavelength light, such as amber-coloured light, is less disruptive to wildlife and turtles than blue-white light. This is because moonlight is relied upon to guide the turtle hatchlings towards the safety of the sea.
“We’ve taken a few of our best-selling LED marine lights and made amber light versions at a wavelength of around 600 nanometres, which is ideal for turtles. The lights are designed for the exterior of vessels and coastal facilities and include our MIR G2 and MAX G2 explosion-proof luminaires. We also have LED Kits which allow customers to keep the housing of their existing luminaire and upgrade their lights to be wildlife and turtle friendly.”
Growing environmental awareness and guidance from authorities have seen the emergence of a market for amber turtle-friendly lighting, particularly in Asia and Australasia. Glamox has already sold some of its new lights for vessels working off coastal waters in Australia.