05/01/2026
Venice, Florida Municipal Government Thank you !
๐ก๐ซ Lights out at the beach for sea turtles!
๐ข Sea turtle nesting season on the Gulf Coast of Florida runs from May 1-Oct. 31. If you encounter a nesting turtle or hatchlings on the beach, remain quiet and observe from a distance.
Like many of Floridaโs coastal communities, the City of Venice has a lighting ordinance requiring residents to turn off beachfront lights during sea turtle nesting season. Citizens should also avoid using flashlights, lanterns or flash photography while on the beach at night.
Replace problematic lights with turtle-friendly fixtures designed to direct light where you need it and away from the beach. Use red or amber LED bulbs (which are less disruptive to nesting sea turtles and hatchlings) in shielded, downward directed turtle-friendly fixtures.
Additionally, when visiting the beach, remember to pack in and pack out, fill in holes, remove beach furniture, and clear the path for turtles! ๐
๐ If you see lights shining on Venice beaches during nesting season, contact City Code Enforcement at 941-882-7549. If you see a sick, injured, or stranded sea turtle in Sarasota or Manatee County waters, contact Mote Marine Laboratoryโs Stranding Investigations Program at 888-345-2335. Outside of Sarasota or Manatee counties, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
๐ข Get more info:
myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/sea-turtle/lighting/
myfwc.com/research/wildlife/sea-turtles/nesting/
