Guidelines for the reduction of light pollution to protect sea turtles

On World Sea Turtle Day – 16 June 2025, the Italian environmental organisation, Legambiente released Guidelines for the reduction of light pollution to protect sea turtles. Developed within the LIFE TURTLENEST project, these guidelines provide practical tools and indications to mitigate the effects of light pollution along coastal areas, aimed primarily at municiple administrations, beach resort managers, businesses and citizens who want to protect the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) and their fragile habitats along shores.

The loggerhead turtle is the most abundant sea turtle species in the Mediterranean Sea. It is a priority species, included in Annexes II and IV of the EU Habitats Directive, whose conservation requires protection of the turtle’s entire natural range, both within and outside Natura 2000 sites, including specific core areas e.g., nesting beaches, foraging grounds and migratory corridors. The species’ conservation status has been assessed as unfavourable-inadequate at EU level and in Italy, unfavourable-bad in France and unknown in Spain. They are expanding their nesting range into the western Mediterranean, where beaches are becoming suitable because of climate warming. Coastal development and along with high tourist demand (light pollution, recreational activities, and beach management methods) pose a threat to new nesting locations. Over the past three decades, conservation initiatives have helped reduce these hazards and educated tourists and other stakeholders with the presence and needs of the turtles during the nesting season in the eastern Mediterranean, where the majority of their nesting takes place. As loggerhead turtles are still colonising the western Mediterranean, this hasn’t occurred there yet; due to a general lack of information and awareness, people on the beaches there are frequently unprepared.

While the guidelines are in Italian, if the PDF text is highlighted and right-clicked, it can be translated by selecting ‘Translate selection to English’, even if you don’t speak the language, the illustrations may also be helpful!

Download Guidelines PDF