Sea Turtles

Annually the Treasure Coast hosts visiting sea turtles from the beginning of March through the end of October, a time known as "turtle nesting season". Sea turtle populations are considered either endangered or threatened, and are protected under a variety of Federal, State and Local laws. These include the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 and Florida's Marine Turtle Protection Act. 

Protections are stipulated regarding the marine turtles themselves, as well as their hatchlings, nests and their habitats. It's important that these marine animals and the laws pertaining to their protection are respected. Please be aware that not all turtle nests are identified with orange tape. 

Nobody may take, harass, harm, pursue, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture or attempt to engage in any such conduct to marine turtles, turtle nests, and/or turtle eggs. Hefty penalties may be imposed upon anyone who violates these laws. ​

Orchid's local ordinances state that to protect the threatened and endangered sea turtles which nest along the beaches in the Town, all oceanfront development and any construction that can be seen from the beach shall comply with the following criteria: All lights illuminating buildings or associated grounds shall be shielded in such a manner that they are not visible from the beach. Lights illuminating dune crosswalks shall be covered, if these lights are visible from the beach. Streetlights shall be located or modified so that illumination will travel landward and not be seen from the beach.

The reason for these local regulations pertaining to lighting is that turtles and their hatchlings become confused by artificial lighting, as their instinct is to use light, that of the moon, to navigate. 

During sea turtle nesting season, no construction, repair, restoration, alteration or maintenance projects east of the existing dune vegetation line shall occur, except for projects necessary to mitigate natural disaster occurrences, dune access projects that if left unattended pose a present danger to health and safety, and/or Florida Department of Environmental Protection permitted and monitored projects.