The Times of India 22 Jan 08;
The experts blamed illegal fishing by the mechanised trawlers along the state's coastline as one of the main reasons for the death of the turtles.
BERHAMPUR: Orissa coast is fast becoming a graveyard for olive ridley turtles as several carcasses of this endangered species have been found in the prominent nesting sites.
Several carcasses of olive ridley turtles have been found in the prominent nesting sites such as Gahiramatha, Rushikulya and Devi river mouths, wildlife experts said.
According to official sources, as many as 1,208 carcasses of the turtles were found dead along the state coastline from November one, 2007 to January 15. Most of the carcasses were found at the Devi river mouth, they added.
Environmentalists and experts, however, claimed the actual mortality was much higher than the official figures. They said it was too early to conclude that there was a declining trend in the mortality of the turtles as claimed by wildlife officials.
The experts blamed illegal fishing by the mechanised trawlers along the state's coastline as one of the main reasons for the death of the turtles.
"Non-enforcement of the Orissa Marine Fisheries (Regulation) Act, 1982 helps them to flout the norms and to kill the visiting turtles," a wildlife expert said.
Several lakhs olive ridley turtles visit the Orissa coast every year for mass nesting. The biggest nesting site for this species in the world is identified as the Gahiramatha beach followed by Rushikulya and Devi river mouths off Orissa coast.
"Most of the turtles died inside the deep sea and their carcasses reached the shore," said the Chief Conservator of the Forests (wildlife) S S Srivastav.
He, however, said the exact cause of the death of the turtles could not be known.
Several steps have been initiated against fishing inside the restricted areas where the turtles congregated for their annual nesting, Srivastav said.
As many as 72 persons were arrested and 12 fishing boats including nine trawlers and one gill-net were seized from them by the enforcement wing of the department so far, he added.
"We have also set up at least 45 camps (40 on-shores and five off-shores) along the coastline to make a strict vigil on the illegal fishing activities. The APR forces have deployed in the camp to assist the wildlife persons," the CCF said.
