BENGALURU, India — An alarming number of dead sea turtles continues to wash ashore along India’s eastern coastline, with experts and local authorities struggling to understand and control the rising toll that now exceeds 600. Environmental advocates believe that the primary cause of this spike in turtle fatalities near Chennai is the practice of overfishing just offshore, where turtles may become unintentionally ensnared in fishing nets. This unfortunate situation has ignited discussions and frustrations within the local community about potential preventive measures. However, fishers argue that their livelihoods are under siege due to rising sea temperatures and increasing operational expenses that leave them few alternatives. In response to the escalating crisis, government officials have heightened their vigilance against illegal fishing activities in the area.
This surge in turtle mortality rates marks the highest occurrence since 2014, when over 900 olive ridley turtles were discovered dead along India’s southern waters.
Fishers attribute these unfortunate events to the volatile and increasingly warm waters. Fishermen in the region report that rough winds and choppy sea conditions have escalated both the difficulty and costs of fishing farther offshore. “As fuel prices keep rising, it costs us nearly 500,000 rupees ($5,784) each time we dispatch our trawl boats,” explained M.E. Raghupathi, a Chennai-based fisherman with over five decades of experience in the industry. “We hold great reverence for turtles, so it pains us to see so many perishing, but we are also responsible for our families’ wellbeing,” he added. Historically, Raghupathi has served as a leader in the local trawl boat association, remarking that the nets and boat technologies used today are outdated, having been established by government-supported research in the 1960s.
Furthermore, K. Bharathi, another local fisherman, highlighted the dramatic decline of fish population in the Bay of Bengal over recent decades, blaming climate change and overfishing as major culprits. “The fish that were abundant 25 years ago are now mostly gone, which is why large trawl boats are invading restricted areas,” he observed, suggesting that establishing artificial reefs could foster fish populations while also providing a safer environment for turtles.
Research conducted by climate scientists indicates that the risks from increasingly severe and unpredictable cyclones along India’s coast are becoming more prevalent due to climate change.
Despite existing protections, the implementation remains tenuous. A local government directive introduced in 2016 prohibited trawlers from using large nets in coastal areas during turtle nesting seasons, and it mandated the installation of turtle excluder devices designed to help turtles escape from nets. Manish Meena, the wildlife warden in charge of the region, stated that governmental bodies have ramped up their efforts to safeguard turtles recently. “We are on high alert and working to educate fishers on how to release any turtles they catch,” he asserted.
Meena remarked that authorities are also promoting the adoption of turtle excluder devices, which consist of metal bars or mesh integrated into the neck of trawl nets. Nevertheless, Raghupathi expressed concerns that these devices could unintentionally allow fish to escape, making such measures economically disadvantageous. “Alternative solutions, like installing cameras within our nets, should be explored without jeopardizing our already declining catch,” he suggested.
In light of media reports regarding the turtle fatalities, India’s National Green Tribunal has warned of an impending ban on fishing during turtle nesting seasons if compliance with fishing regulations is not promptly achieved.
The olive ridley turtles are classified as a vulnerable species, threatened by habitat loss, marine pollution, and entanglement in fishing gear. Laying their eggs, which require approximately two months to hatch, these turtles face further dangers due to elevated coastal activities, rising temperatures, and light pollution that can confuse hatchlings as they make their way to the sea. Each year, around 500,000 turtles nest on the beaches of Odisha state, showcasing a significant nesting event known as Arribada. However, statistics reveal that only about one in a thousand hatchlings survives to maturity.
Supraja Dharini, the founder of Tree Foundation, an organization dedicated to turtle conservation, emphasized that protecting these vulnerable species can coexist with artisanal fishing practices, provided they are conducted sustainably. “What benefits small-scale fishers tends to also benefit the turtles,” she remarked, suggesting a symbiotic relationship could be fostered for both parties involved.
