CAST Lighting Luminaires Receive Wildlife Lighting Certification for Marine Turtle Habitats

CAST Lighting announced today that 18 models of its popular solid bronze path lights have been approved for use in marine turtle habitats. The governing agency, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) tested the outdoor lights for compliance with its turtle-friendly guidelines.

All species of sea turtles are recognized as either endangered or threatened. They are protected by the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 and various state and local statutes. Since artificial lighting may interfere with the successful emergence of turtle hatchlings, many of these statutes place restrictions on lighting near turtle habitats. The FFWCC assists the effort by certifying lighting products and lamps that adhere to restrictive guidelines. These guidelines are organized into three sections:

1. Keep it Low. This guideline refers to keeping lights low to the ground, as well as keeping light levels low.

2. Keep it Shielded. This refers to the light fixture's construction. To adhere to the guideline, the light must have a hood or shield to prevent direct view of the lamp filament.

3. Keep it long. This is perhaps the most restrictive guideline. It requires the light source to emit only long-wave colors in the red or amber part of the color spectrum. These colors are invisible to turtles.

The CAST Lighting fixtures certified by the FFWCC, conform to all these guidelines. They comply with the color requirement through use of red and amber LED light sources. LED's are superior to other lamps types because they emit light at very specific frequencies (wave lengths). Use of incandescents or flourescents with color filters produce a mix of wavelengths that may be more visible to the turtles.

Steve Parrott, CAST Lighting's Communication and Marketing Director, welcomes the news, "Since our inception, we have always designed our lights to be environmentally friendly. CAST Lighting fixtures all have recessed lamp sockets and extra-long shrouds to prevent light pollution and light trespass. Turtles are not the only creatures who are affected by stray light; humans also object to the harsh glare exhibited by lights from many manufacturers."

David Beausoleil, CAST Lighting president, continues, "Our fixtures have long been a prime choice for beachside properties. In addition to the shielding, our lights are constructed of solid bronze and will not corrode or break in the harsh coastal environment. They survive exposure to salt spray, acid soil, even hurricanes. In addition, we use tin-coated marine-grade wire and employ installation techniques that prevent electrical failures."

Testament to the popularity of CAST Lighting fixtures along the coast, several beachside resorts have installed these fixtures. In a recent project, over 1,000 CAST Lighting fixtures were installed at the new St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort in Puerto Rico.

Read the White Paper: Sea Turtle Protection - The CAST Lighting Approach.

About CAST Lighting
CAST Lighting manufactures solid bronze landscape lighting fixtures and complete low voltage system components. For more information, go to cast-lighting.com.