Protecting Sea Turtles

One of the most exciting things about visiting Florida is getting the chance to see sea turtles. These beautiful creatures date back to prehistoric times. They are considered one of the oldest living animal species alive today. At night, both locals and visitors often walk along the beaches hoping to catch a glance of one of these tremendous turtles coming ashore to lay its eggs. It is extremely important that people only appreciate them from afar, however. Sea turtles are a protected species in Florida.
Both state and federal laws serve to protect sea turtles in Florida. The loggerhead, which is most commonly found on Florida's beaches, is one of seven sea turtle species that is currently protected under both Florida's Marine Turtle Protection Act and the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973.1 It is against the law to bother or harm sea turtles in any way. Sea turtles, their nests, and their eggs are all protected. People who do not follow sea turtle preservation laws face stiff fines and even jail time.
In fact, many beach communities have additional laws of their own in place to protect sea turtles. For example, in Melbourne Beach, Florida, people living on beachfront properties are required to turn off any lights facing the beach between 9:00 pm and 5:00 am during the period of May 1 through October 31 each year.2 For those using indoor lighting, black-out curtains are also required. It is also recommended that beachfront homes tint any windows facing the beach and use low-pressure sodium-vapor (LPS) lighting instead of normal lights. LPS lights are not as bright. Restrictions exist because sea turtles come ashore during this time period to lay their eggs. Delicate, new sea turtle hatchlings are born. People who violate these restrictions face serious fines. They will continue to incur them daily until they comply with the law.
Laws protecting sea turtles exist for good reason. It is estimated that artificial lighting kills thousands of sea turtles each year in Florida. This is especially significant because approximately 90 percent of all sea turtle nesting in the United States occurs in Florida.3 Artificial lighting distracts female sea turtles. This discourages them from laying their eggs on the beach. As a result, they might lay their eggs in the ocean or in dark places away from the beach. This makes it difficult for their young to survive.
A late night walk along a Florida beach can be a memorable experience for anyone lucky enough to see a sea turtle laying her eggs. In many communities, there are even tour groups for this purpose.4 It is important to remember, however, that sea turtles are a protected species. People should respect their environment and avoid disturbing sea turtles, their nests, or their eggs.

See Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission for more information about state and federal laws.
Visit the City of Melbourne Beach website for laws specific to the community.
See Sea Turtle Conservancy to learn about statistics related to sea turtle survival rates.
Visit the Florida Visitor Information Center to learn about sea turtle tour groups.
1
Select ALL the correct answers.
In which two ways does the second paragraph contribute to the development of ideas in the passage?
It explains that there is punishment for harming a protected species.
It illustrates how sea turtles build their nests and protect their eggs.
It clarifies the difference between admiring and bothering sea turtles.
It supports the idea that sea turtles are more likely visible at night.
It establishes that there are laws in place to safeguard sea turtles.