Sea turtle nesting beaches require protection from light pollution, predation, and human disturbance during the critical nesting and hatching periods.
Sea turtle nesting and hatching welfare is shaped by the accumulation of anthropogenic threats on beaches that evolved as safe nesting habitat. A female that navigates thousands of miles to her natal beach encounters lighting that disorients her, obstacles that impede her progress, and human disturbance that causes her to turn back repeatedly. Each interrupted nesting attempt is a failed reproductive investment that also involves significant energy expenditure and stress. Hatchlings that emerge and head toward artificial lighting rather than the ocean experience progressive exhaustion before death from dehydration or predation. Beach management that addresses lighting, obstacles, and invasive predators directly improves the welfare of each nesting female and the survival of hatchlings.