Forest department identifies turtle nesting spots

The Times of India , Monday, November 07, 2016
Correspondent : TNN
MADURAI: With turtle nesting season just round the corner, the forest department in coastal districts of the region, has begun identifying possible nesting spots along the coast. The department will begin protection measures, setting up hatcheries along the coast, preferably two per district, releasing the hatchlings once they are born.

Gulf of Mannar marine bio-sphere is home to a majority of the turtle species including Olive Ridley and green turtles, both of which are endangered. Every year, the turtles start coming to the shore by December to lay eggs. These eggs are vulnerable to being damaged by humans and animals. There have been several incidents of turtle poaching. Sometimes, the turtles get hit by fishing boats or get caught in the fishing net and die of suffocation.

To protect these turtles, the forest department has identified possible nesting sites. They also keep vigil on the traditional nesting sites. In Ramanathapuram district, 15 potential sites have been identified, including traditional nesting sites like Dhanushkodi and MariyurOppilan. "Once we identify the nests, we will start deploying turtle watchers along the coast. They will perambulate the area to give information on turtle nesting. We will also set up hatcheries along the coast," said Deepak Bilgi, wildlife warden of Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park. Out of the 3,000 eggs collected last year in Ramanathapuram district coast, 2400 hatched and were released in the sea.

In Kanyakumari district, there are around 8 possible sites and hatcheries have been set up at Dwarakapathi and Ayirankalpozhimugam where 4000 eggs were collected, 80% of which successfully hatched last year.

This year, the state fisheries department has come out with the fishing restriction of not allowing fishermen to fish 5 nautical miles from shore in possible nesting sites. It has attracted much ire from the fishing community. They say that such restrictions impact their livelihood.

During a grievance redressal meet held in Tuticorin for fishermen recently, they argued that releasing industrial effluents into the sea had killed more turtles than fishing nets ever have.

 
SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/Forest-department-identifies-turtle-nesting-spots/articleshow/55285763.cms
 


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