Sea Turtle Nesting Season Awareness
Sea turtle nesting season is from March 1 to October 31 (Atlantic) or May 1 to October 31 (Gulf). During this time, Key West residents and visitors may enjoy the beauty of watching baby sea turtle hatchlings in their natural habitat.
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How You Can Help Hatchlings
One warm August night, baby turtles hatched on Smather's Beach. The plight of these hatchlings gave a graphic reminder that lights near the beach need to be turtle-safe or off during hatching season.
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Prohibited Activities
Learn about which activities are prohibited to protect sea turtles.
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Protection from Predation
Predatory species are not allowed to roam during nesting season.
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Standards for Exterior Artificial Lighting
To prevent exterior artificial lighting from illuminating the jurisdictional boundaries or adjacent waters during the nesting season, measures shall be taken to reduce or eliminate the negative effects of new or existing artificial lighting.
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Standards for Interior Artificial Lighting
To prevent interior artificial lighting from illuminating the jurisdictional boundaries or adjacent waters during the nesting season, measures shall be taken to reduce or eliminate the negative effects of new or existing interior light emanating from doors and windows.
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Turtle's Nest Images
Find pictures of turtle nests and the migration process.