The introduction of artificial light in marine and coastal ecosystems represents a dramatic anthropogenic change in natural light and dark cycles, to which organisms and ecosystems have adapted over millions of years. Artificial light negatively affects marine species, from marine turtle nesting and coral spawning to zooplankton migration and can have physiological and behavioural consequences. Disturbances to individual species from light pollution may consequently impact ecosystem processes.
To address this ecological challenge, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water developed the National Light Pollution Guidelines for Wildlife (the Guidelines) to raise awareness about and provide an evidenced-based framework underpinning a risk-assessed and adaptive approach for managing the impacts of light pollution on wildlife. Since publishing the Guidelines, the Australian Government has identified two main barriers to managing light pollution—awareness and implementing the Guidelines. In 2023, the department launched the Reducing Light Pollution in Coastal Communities grant program to improve light pollution mitigation for susceptible coastal species. Though the programs were a success, the Australian Government commissioned a case study from Sunshine Coast Council demonstrating use of the Guidelines and their approach to mitigating light pollution for their sea turtles as an example for other communities.