Managers, Engineers and Resort Operations’ people were invited by President Edith van der Wal, and her team, Turtugaruba, to attend a special presentation at Costa Linda Beach Resort in preparation for the 2024 Leatherback Sea Turtle season, starting on Eagle Beach within a few weeks.
The nesting season here usually runs from March through September, hatchings take place from May to November, which means the incubation takes about 60 to 70 days.
Aruba knows from past experiences how artificial lights shining on the beach interfere with the nesting process and the sea finding of little hatchlings. Turtugaruba noticed that many visitors are aware of smarter lighting solutions applied elsewhere in the world, and they are asking the organization and their host hotels, to do better in Aruba, too.
Turtugaruba invited two lighting specialists from the Sea Turtle Conservancy, FWC, Florida Wildlife Conservation, a renowned organization based in Florida, USA. They gave an informative presentation about modern solutions for lighting challenges, and how to protect both turtle and human interests in a practical way.
The meeting at Costa Linda Beach Resort, was well attended, and the two visiting experts from FWC, introduced three rules of wildlife friendly lighting.
- Keep in low, mount fixtures close to the ground and pointed down, use lower watts and lumens.
- Keep it shielded, shield the light sources so they are not visible from the beach.
- Keep it long, use long wavelength lights of 560 nanometers, or longer.
It is important to check that certified wildlife friendly fixtures are used, samples of which are posted on the Sea Turtles Conservation website, STC, including lighting examples and distributors.Just st in case, you forget, sea turtles return to their natal beach in order to nest; They use the earth’s magnetic field to guide them on their long journeys at sea; They do not nest every year, but rather every 2-5 years; The Leatherback Sea Turtles of Aruba lay about 115 eggs a clutch; an active female will nest 6 – 8 times a season; It is estimated that only 1 in 1,000 hatchlings survives to maturity.
Most important: All species of sea turtles are endangered and need our protection.
Turtugaruba appreciates questions, and remarks. Please write to turtugaruba@hotmail.com or +297 592 9393 (telephone or WhatsApp)
