Ensure turtles arent harmed

CHENNAI: With the Olive Ridley nesting season set to begin, volunteers of the Sea Turtle Protection Force urged the government to ensure the use of Turtle Exclusion Device (TED) by trawl fishers. A request was made to Rakesh Vasisht, Tamil Nadu’s Chief Wildlife Warden, at the 10th annual meeting of Sea Turtle Protection Force (STPF)volunteers. Acknowledging the problem, Vasisht said, “A lot of disturbance is being created because of uncontrolled fishing practices. This is not just being done for Olive Ridley turtles, but for other marine life as well.”“Each TED would cost about Rs 15,000. If turtle conservation is kept in mind by the trawlers and they take necessary action to ensure they don’t kill the turtles, then it becomes controlled fishing. This can be achieved simply by using Turtle Exclusion Devices,” the Chief Wildlife Warden added.The Tree Foundation of India, of which the STPF is a part, announced at the meeting that it would soon start distributing stickers to trawlers, with pictorial representations of how a sea turtle can be released without being harmed when it is caught in the net of trawlers. “We are going to paste two stickers on each of the trawlers at Kasimedu. Most of our fishermen care about the sea, but they don’t know how they can save a turtle from their own nets without harming them. The pictorial representations will make it easy for them to understand,” said Supraja Dharini, founder of the Tree Foundation.Vasisht also used the platform to urge the various groups involved in sea turtle conservation to complement each other. “A number of organisations are working along the coast to conserve sea turtles. I request all of them to consider if their work can be carried out in a co-ordinated manner. The government’s support to sea turtle conservation will continue and will be expanded in whatever way possible,” said Vasisht. The Chief Wildlife Warden presented gifts to STPF volunteers, from across three districts, who had worked effectively during the last turtle nesting season. He encouraged them to carry on with their good work. Vasisht also handed over forms of the Wildlife Wing of the Forest Department meant to log fishermen’s encounters with sea turtles. He also praised the work of Forest Range Officer (HQ) Davidraj for his active role in sea turtle conservation activities over the past few years.