A concerted effort by the Forest Department staff in getting the cooperation of fishermen, constitution of surveillance teams and proper maintenance of coastal belt have resulted in sharp increase in collection and hatching of Olive Ridley eggs this season, when compared to previous year.

The rise is put at about 20 per cent over last year’s achievement due to effective implementation of Tamil Nadu Bio-diversity and Greening Project, says Forest Department officials, who have been releasing the hatchlings, in a phased manner, from three hatcheries, set up in coastal villages.

Of 12,631 eggs collected this season, 3,815 are preserved at hatchery at Vanagiri, 6,710 at Koolaiyar and 2,106 at Kottagaimedu. Of them, 5,134 eggs have hatched and let into the sea. The number of Oliver Ridley hatchlings released was 1,240 from Vanagiri, 1,881 from Koolaiyar and 2,013 in Kottaigaimedu.

On Tuesday, 65 hatchlings were let into the sea at Vanagiri.

These three places are considered ideal for Oliver Ridley to lay eggs as these interior locations are free from pollution like plastic waste and garbage. The habitation strength was less.

The Forest Department personnel have set up special bamboo thatched fence with gunny bags at its base to prevent stray dogs or cats prowling upon the eggs or tender turtles.

The collection of eggs commenced in December but the peak collection was witnessed in January. V. Gopinath, Forest Range Officer, Sirkali, who has been monitoring the collection and hatching of eggs, said that the hatcheries were located at a distance of 20 metres from the shores so that the eggs could be shifted and preserved. The egg is covered with a gel and should be shifted to the hatchery quickly,” he said.

As Karaikal does not have a hatchery, a total of 111 eggs collected from Karaikal were being preserved at the hatchery at Vanagiri.

The humidity and temperature at Nagapattinam coast has been ideal for the Olive Ridleys to reach shores. Olive Ridley plays an important role in conservation of marine wealth, particularly fish resource. The sea turtles clean the coral reef by consuming the moss deposited on it.

The Forest Department had been conducting a series of awareness programmes among fishermen. “We have constituted teams comprising fishermen and officials for each hatchery. We keep a close surveillance of the area in the night,” he said.

Night patrolling is being carried out at Pazhaiyar, Madavamedu, Chinnakottagaimedu, Koolaiyar, Thoduvai, Tirumullaivasal, Pudhukuppam, Nadukuppam, Nachiyarkuppam, Keezha Moovarkarai, Poompuhar and Vanagiri.

He urged people to inform officials whenever they happen to come across any injured sea turtle. “We have made all arrangements for treating the injuries before letting them back into the sea,” he said. The department has constituted a round-the-clock cell for receiving any information about Olive Ridley in the district.

Frequent inspection and interaction with fishermen by C. Vidya, Wildlife Warden, Nagapattinam, and V. Thirunavukkarasu, Conservator of Forest, Tiruchi, created adequate awareness among the fishermen about the importance of preserving Olive Ridleys.