‘Marine biodiversity preservation is top priority’

Science holds the key to effective conservation, according to Dr Mridula Srinivasan, marine ecologist from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). “Our mandate is to use science to protect endangered species and habitats. Almost all our conservation decisions are based on sound science — be it fish stock or sea turtle assessment. If we don’t do the science well, our whole decision making is flawed. For this reason, data sharing is important. We publish our data frequently to be accessed by the public, stakeholders and also the scientific community. If we don’t get critical input, management decision-making becomes problematic.” She is in the city to inspire youngsters to participate in preserving marine biodiversity as a run up to the 2016 Our Oceans Conference in Washington DC. 

Tagging a species, for example, offered a means to study its life patterns. “We are supporting research to tag sea turtle hatchlings so we know where they are going after they leave the nesting beaches. We also take genetic samples from the hatchlings and females to ascertain population structure. The Turtle Excluder Device (TED), which was developed by NOAA scientists, can help release turtles stranded in fishing nets. But just as in India, in the US too, fishermen frequently have complaints about these devices. And we have been working with them and other stakeholders to improve design and minimise catch loss,” she pointed out. 

Pollution, especially marine debris, will be one of the key subjects of interest at the 2016 Our Oceans Conference, hosted by Secretary of State, John Kerry. Ariel H Pollock, Public Affairs Officer, US Consulate General Chennai, pointed out, “Secretary Kerry had said that this particular issue of conservation of marine ecology is a matter of national security for us. It is nice to know that environmental, marine and climate change issues are being considered as top security issues.” 

Environmental depredation does have a ripple effect and there is no clearer evidence of that than the way pollution affects marine life. Dr Mridula pointed out how marine pollution — ocean noise originating from ships, cargo and cruise ships, and coastal and offshore development activities — and its concomitant debris, which included plastic, soda cans, balloons, and discarded fishing gear, was an acute threat with immediate population-level consequences. 

Fishing gear discarded in the ocean was a huge problem as whale sharks, whales, dolphins, and turtles got entangled in it. “We need to incentivise fishermen against such disposal. Awareness should happen at multiple levels – from students to the general public to ensure that we do not litter the beaches or the oceans and repurpose marine debris for different uses,” said Dr Mridula.