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DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES News Release LINDA LINGLE GOVERNOR _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PETER T. YOUNG, CHAIRPERSON
Phone: (808) 587-0401
Fax: (808) 587-0390
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For Immediate Release:
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| HONOLULU— The Department of Land and Natural Resources is asking coastal residents and businesses to help protect Hawai‘i ocean- and wildlife from the negative impacts of bright lights shining on the ocean. “There are many homes and businesses that shine very bright spotlights onto the ocean for various reasons and these can have a severe negative impact on our sea life and seabirds,” said Peter Young, DLNR chairperson. “Turtle hatchlings may also be confused by shore lights and head inland instead of out to the safety of the sea,” he said. “Petrels and shearwaters nest high in remote mountain areas, especially on Kaua‘i, but also along parts of O‘ahu’s remote north and windward coasts. Fledgling shearwaters are particularly vulnerable to light attraction on their first nocturnal flight from their burrow to the sea.” “However, they may become distracted by bright street, house or park/field lights, or be attracted to them before reaching the sea,” Young said. “In the case of lights shining out onto the ocean, some birds may even be drawn back onto shore after reaching the sea. Birds become disoriented by the lights and tend to flutter around them to the point of exhaustion, when they fall to the ground, frequently becoming vulnerable prey to cats and dogs. Adult shearwaters also collide with power lines, towers and other structures.” DLNR has been working with government agencies, landowners, businesses, hotels and communities to reduce the impacts of coastal lights on wildlife. For example, the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative has agreed to reduce the impacts of their lights. In addition, most streetlights are now shielded. “We are also working on a collaborative effort with the University of Hawai‘i Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit (PCSU) staff to work with the community to reduce the impacts of lights at various establishments, such as hotels and businesses. “PCSU has been very successful to date in providing information to the community and getting their support for our endangered seabird recovery work.” he said. “As part of our endangered bird recovery program, DLNR maintains teams that are investigating population status and trends, mapping the distribution of nesting birds to better understand threats, and trapping predators,” Young said. “The Department's commitment in terms of staff and recovery dollars is substantial.” “We also maintain a community program called SOS — Save Our Shearwaters. We ask the public to gently retrieve the birds, place them safely in a covered cardboard box with some water (but no food) and to call us promptly to pick up. Or they can be taken to county fire stations or to Sea Life Park.” SOS staff and volunteers pick up the stranded birds and bring them to central locations where they can be cared for and released. The birds are transported to dark areas of the coast in the hope that they will fly out to sea without being drawn in again. Hundreds of birds are saved every year — thousands in the last 20 years — by this island-wide community effort. Although the overall recovery needs for these species are very complex, and not limited to light attraction alone, the impact of bright lights is significant. Thus, reducing that threat is a growing priority for recovery for communities across the country. The Maui County Public Works Committee is presently working on light mitigation ordinances for Maui. Some communities have their own ordinances, such as the Wailea Community Association (Maui). These ordinances are intended to prevent light “trespass” by requiring that the lights not be directly visible from “protected” areas. In other words, the light needs to be shielded and cannot illuminate the protected area. # # # For more information, contact:
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