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 and even result in altered food web dynamics.
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. Projects funded under this program end in June 2024 providing an opportunity for the Australian Government to share insights with environmental practitioners and coastal communities to improve light pollution management.