Sea turtle nesting beaches face threats from development, light pollution, vehicle traffic, and climate change. Nest protection programs provide direct welfare benefits and help sustain populations of critically endangered species.
Disoriented hatchlings face exhaustion, dehydration, and predation when light pollution leads them away from the sea. Nested eggs crushed by vehicles represent significant losses to recovering populations. Individual hatchlings who make it to the water still face predation and plastic ingestion risks. Nest protection programs that install screens, patrol beaches, and redirect hatchlings provide direct welfare benefits. Turning off or redirecting beachfront lighting during nesting season is one of the most effective and cheapest interventions available.