Fort Lauderdale is killing sea turtles!

[DebbyDiver]

YouTube - Sea Turtle Hatchlings Rescued by FWC and S.T.O.P. in Ft. Lauderdale

A team of FWC law enforcement officers joined volunteers from Sea Turtle Oversight Protection on September 1st to document and rescue 4 different disoriented sea turtle nests on South Fort Lauderdale beach.

What they found was shocking and disturbing.

THIS IS ILLEGAL!
There are Federal, State and Local laws to prevent this nightly tragedy. YOU can help STOP it NOW by emailing your complaints to Ft. Lauderdale Code Enforcement. code@fortlauderdale.gov

In a letter written to Sea Turtle Oversight Protection Aug 19th 2010, the Fort Lauderdale code enforcement manager stated, "Our approach has been more educational than heavy-handed in terms of enforcement."
Mike Maloney
Code Enforcement Manager

DO NOT ACCEPT THIS! Your tax dollars are being used to selectively enforce the law while endangered species are senselessly dying every night!! Who is making that decision? Leave the education to the schools and the enforcement to the officials we pay to ENFORCE!

These are YOUR TAX DOLLARS. THIS IS YOUR DECISION!!!

Forward to friends, ask you children's class to write letters to officials as a school project. Please, do what you can to expose this dark secret.

For more information, please visit http://SeaTurtleOP.org

Proclamation by the Mayor of Ft. Lauderdale.


NOTE: These rescues were performed by trained sea turtle rescue workers with permitting from Florida Wildlife Commission and using approved lighting.

It is UNLAWFUL to disturb, handle or illuminate hatchlings. Use of artificial light is prohibited on nesting beaches.

 

[jimw]

I sent them an email, Debby. I hope a lot of others do as well.

 

[DebbyDiver]

Thank you, Jim!!!!! Everyone else, get writing!!!!

 

[Scott L]

An unfortunate by-product of a county that allowed massive hotels and condos be built side-by-side up and down the coast. A few handy rocks will work well with unlawful lights...

 

[cruiser]

A team of FWC law enforcement officers joined volunteers from Sea Turtle Oversight Protection on September 1st to document and rescue 4 different disoriented sea turtle nests on South Fort Lauderdale beach.

Does the bolded text above mean killing them?

 

[JoeFL]

Does the bolded text above mean killing them?

Its the law enforcement agency, or powers that be, that allow the beach to be lit up like Las Vegas (well not quite) that are killing them. The ones that aren't saved like those in the video.

 

[cruiser]

Its the law enforcement agency, or powers that be, that allow the beach to be lit up like Las Vegas (well not quite) that are killing them. The ones that aren't saved like those in the video.

It didn't make sense to me at first, but I see what you're saying.

 

[DebbyDiver]

Does the bolded text above mean killing them?

As Joe posted, the lighting on the beach is killing them and Fort Lauderdale is an accomplice by not enforcing the laws. FWC was out to see firsthand what was going on. Their eyes were opened wide.

 

[DebbyDiver]

Here's another video from Saturday night.

 

[Florida Scuba Divers]

Very sad... drafting letter now and will send today. Thanks for bring this to our attention Debby.