Mass Olive Ridley Turtle Deaths on Odisha Coast: Fishing Nets Blamed
In a distressing environmental incident, approximately 1,500 carcasses of Olive Ridley sea turtles have washed ashore along a 25-kilometer stretch from the Jatadhari river mouth in Jagatsinghpur district to Eakakula beach within the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary in Kendrapada, Odisha. This area is recognized as the world's largest rookery for this endangered species, making the event particularly alarming for conservationists.
Cause of Death: Entanglement in Fishing Nets
Kapilendra Pradhan, the forest range officer of Gahirmatha sanctuary, stated that the turtles died after becoming entangled in the fishing nets of trawlers. He explained, "The turtles got caught in the nets and perished." The state government has enforced a fishing ban inside the sanctuary, which extends about 20 kilometers off the coast, from November 1 to May 31 each year to protect the turtles. Forest teams conduct surprise raids to prevent illegal fishing in this prohibited zone.
However, Kapilendra noted that the nets were discovered outside the sanctuary's limits, where fishing is not banned. "Strong winds have pushed the carcasses ashore along the Gahirmatha coast," he added. To mitigate pollution, officials bury the dead turtles near the beach.
Injury Marks and Additional Threats
Hemant Rout, secretary of the Gahirmatha Marine Turtles and Mangrove Conservation Society, observed that many carcasses bore injury marks, indicating they were trapped in trawl or gill nets. Experts highlighted other threats to the turtles, including predation by marine creatures like catfish and sharks, disturbance from bright lights causing stress, and potential impacts from high-decibel sounds, though the latter's effect is minimal but not negligible.
Impact on Tourism and Local Economy
The sight and foul smell of the dead turtles have started to deter tourists from popular beaches such as Siali, Satabhaya, Pentha, and Paradip in Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur districts. This decline in tourist footfall adversely affects local shopkeepers and hotel owners who rely on tourism for their livelihoods.
Balabhadra Sahoo, a shop owner at Siali beach, expressed concern, "The stench is spreading, and tourists are avoiding the area. Forest officials bury only a few carcasses in shallow pits, leaving the beach littered with dead turtles." Anam Behera, a tea stall owner at Paradip beach, echoed this sentiment, "Our hopes are dashed as tourists steer clear."
Onlookers shared their anguish. Brajesh Sahoo, a 27-year-old visitor to Paradip beach, said, "It's heartbreaking to see dead turtles scattered on the beach." Sarat Rout, a 60-year-old retired employee, reported counting nearly 40 dead turtles on a stretch near his quarters on Monday.
Conservation Efforts and Violations
Gahirmatha was declared a marine sanctuary in 1997 to protect the Olive Ridley species. Kapilendra mentioned that due to the fishing ban, over 606,933 turtles laid eggs between March 5 and March 10 on islands within the sanctuary. However, violations persist. According to the Odisha Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1982, trawlers must fish beyond five kilometers from the coast and 20 kilometers inside the sanctuary, but hundreds flout these rules, fishing closer to shore and contributing to turtle deaths.
Since November 1, authorities have arrested 345 marine fishermen and seized 38 fishing vessels, including two from West Bengal and two from Andhra Pradesh, for illegal fishing inside the sanctuary. They also confiscated 3,315.30 quintals of fish from these vessels.
Allegations of Under-Reporting and Solutions
Hemant Rout alleged that forest and wildlife officials under-report the number of dead turtles to the government, warning that such large-scale deaths annually could severely impact the endangered population. He advocated for the installation of turtle excluder devices (TEDs)—small metal grids or nets inside trawl nets that allow turtles to escape while retaining fish catch. "Enforcement of TED use is nowhere in sight," he lamented, highlighting a critical gap in conservation measures.
This incident underscores the ongoing challenges in balancing fishing activities with wildlife protection in one of India's most vital marine ecosystems.
