CONSERVING THE ENDANGERED SEA TURTLES
Environmental protection
broadly means the conservation of all flora and fauna on the land
and under water. The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute
(CMFRI), Kochi conducted a study on sea turtle conservation and
management some time ago. The study was sponsored by the Ministry
of Environment and Forests, Government of India and organized
jointly by CMFRI and the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun.
Sea turtles are
among the most endangered species protected under Convention of
International Trade on Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna
(CITES) and Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). The Indian
Wildlife Protection Regulations also classifies sea turtles as
a protected species. Of late, sea turtles have attracted the attention
of the world community in view of a decision taken by the United
States to ban the import of shrimp from countries that do not
make Turtle Excluder Devices (TED) mandatory in nets used by the
fishing vessels. TED is a device that allows the turtle to escape
from the net without causing much loss of shrimp or other catches.
This is important for India since shrimp is a major foreign exchange
earner contributing over 70 per cent of its marine products’ export
earning.
Sea turtles caught
in large numbers in the fishing nets during their nesting season
die on a mass scale. The problem is very acute along Orissa and
West Bengal coasts between December and April. It is in this background
that the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), Kochi,
took up the design, fabrication, field testing, popularization
and training of fishermen in its fabrication and use. The TED
developed by CIFT was successfully field-tested in Kochi, Visakhapatanam
and Paradeep. Some other States which are having lesser catch
of sea turtles are also learning about the technique.
The main objective
of the study was to impart training to the frontline and field
staff of forest, fisheries and research organizations of Western
India and Lakshadweep in protecting sea turtles. Themes such as
identification of different species of sea turtles, life history
and biology, nesting areas of sea turtles, protection of breeding
and nesting grounds and other fishing-related issues were studied.
The study also focused on State-wise plans for conservation and
management and sharing and transfer of information on sea turtle
conservation.
India has been
playing a major role in the protection and conservation of endangered
species of animals and plants. Greater attention is given to the
study of sea turtles in our Exclusive Economic Zones to develop
proper techniques of their conservation.
Five species
of sea turtles are found in the Indian coastal waters. They are
the Olive Ridley, the Green Turtle, the Hawkbill, the Loggerhead
and the Leatherback. These species are protected under Schedule-1
of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Also, India abides
by the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species
of Wild Fauna and Flora which prohibits the trade in turtle products.
Sea turtles are
generally found in warm waters and they begin life as embryos
in eggs deposited at a depth of 60 cm on sandy beaches. In recent
years the large-scale mortality rate of the sea turtles due to
incidental catch in fishing operations heightened tensions between
conservationists and fishing communities. In 1999 an estimated
number of 1927 turtles were caught along the Indian coast. The
study conducted by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute
on incidental catches of turtles in different years provides useful
information for evolving suitable measures for reducing their
mortality rate.
Several State
governments and administrations of Union Territories have evolved
strategies for effective protection of sea turtles. These include
habitat preservation, species preservation through recovery programmes,
legislation and enforcement of prevalent laws and regulations
as also conducting research pertaining to biology, ecology and
reproductive physiology of the turtles.
Maritime States
like West Bengal, Orissa and Kerala have promulgated regulations
compulsorily prescribing the use of Turtle Excluder Device in
trawling. The other concerned States are expected to follow suit
to protect the sea turtles from extinction.
Inputs from Biju K. Mathew, Information Assistant, PIB Kochi
