Homage to dead turtles stresses need to protect the species

Between 8.30 to 10 am, 15 Sea Turtle Protection Force and members of the TREE Foundation made a huge sand sculpture of the Olive Ridley at the Neelankarai beach, where many dead turtles had stranded in the past. 

Dr Supraja Dharini of the Tree Foundation said that illegal trawling has turned into death traps for the sea turtles. “The cause of death of 824 turtles was inferred by the fisheries department as well as the DFO of Nellore to drowning, after being caught in the 40 odd trawler boats with Tamil Nadu registrations. These vessels were fishing 2.5 kms from the shore near the estuary, violating the Marine Fishing Regulation Act,” said this environmentalist.  

Dr Dharini also added that gill nets and nets to catch ray fish are turning lethal for these turtles. 

“The turtles get entangled in these nets and injure their head and flippers. This year, we have released 173 sea turtles from these nets while 124 sea turtles were found dead between Neelankarai and Alambarai,” she said, highlighting the need for stronger enforcement of law to save this marine species. 

“In Chennai alone, there are around 500 trawling vessels and 250 boats with gill nets. Stronger enforcement of the law by the fisheries department will go a long way towards sea turtle conservation,” she said, adding that 96 schools and four colleges observed a moment of silence in memory of the dead turtles. 

Sand models of sea turtles were created by the members of Sea Turtle Protection Force in Kancheepuram, Nellore, Krishan, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam coasts in Andhra Pradesh and Berhampur Coast in Odisha. 

TA Pugalarasan, a fisherman and senior Sea Turtle Protection Force member, said, “Despite depending on the ocean for a living, we don’t really know so much about it. When I started working on turtle conservation, I realised the important role these creatures play in the marine ecosystem. The need of the hour is to create more awareness, especially among the fishermen, and engage them in saving the sea turtles.”