Community Conservation of turtles

[Nayantara]

The local fishing community of Kasarkod, Tonka in Honnavar has made enclosures for turtles to lay their eggs during nesting season (photo attached). Many turtles including the critically endangered Asian Giant Soft Shell turtle have been spotted by the community. According to a recent newspaper article in February this year, at least 7 female olive ridley turtles were found dead on the beach while 250 eggs were stolen leaving footprints as evidence on the beach. Further stressing the situation is a port that is proposed at the turtle nesting sites. The exact location where the port development is currently taking place is at the Sharvathi estuary (where the Arabian sea meets the Sharavathi river). Being proven to have long-term ecological consequences, the project is also economically unviable as this is a high eroding coast.

Here are some links to articles that explain in detail the situation on the ground-

https://www.deccanherald.com/state/karnataka-districts/250-olive-ridley-sea-turtles-hatchlings-missing-from-honnavar-beaches-fishermen-1084180.html

Fishermen of Kasarkod Tonka struggling to protect their land and livelihood

https://www.deccanherald.com/specials/insight/sagarmala-project-do-we-really-need-more-ports-1117395.html

[Naveen]

Something similar happens in Odisha as well, where fishing communities protect the nesting sites of turtles, especially Olive Ridley Sea Turtles

https://www.sustainability-times.com/environmental-protection/fishing-communities-in-india-help-save-endangered-sea-turtles/

[admin]

Such stories can be found across India. There are new collaborative networks who are working with local communities to enable this. A lot of them have realised how crucial the buy-in from the local community is.

Building community networks to save a rare turtle from extinction

[Author]

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