New turtle-friendly lights installed to protect sea turtles in Ocean Isle Beach
OCEAN ISLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — The Ocean Isle Beach Sea Turtle Protection Organization (OIBSTPO) has begun installing wildlife-safe streetlights on the east end of Ocean Isle Beach in an effort to better protect nesting sea turtles and their hatchlings.
As of July 3rd, eight of the area’s 20 white oceanfront streetlights have been replaced with wildlife-safe amber fixtures. The organization says the new lighting is designed to reduce the impact of artificial light on sea turtles, which rely on the natural light of the moon and horizon to navigate their way to the ocean.
The project was made possible after the Ocean Isle Beach Board of Commissioners voted to approve the use of the turtle-friendly lights.
While the town is not providing financial support for the project, OIBSTPO is covering the cost of installing the new fixtures as well as the increased monthly utility costs associated with the amber lighting.
In a statement, the organization thanked the town and community members for supporting the effort, calling the project an example of what can be accomplished through community partnerships to protect coastal wildlife.
OIBSTPO says the lighting upgrades are another step toward making Ocean Isle Beach safer for nesting sea turtles and newly hatched turtles as they make their way to the ocean.
The organization plans to continue working to preserve and protect sea turtles along the Brunswick County coast through conservation, education, and volunteer efforts.
