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NAGAPATTINAM: The Forest Department's Nagapattinam Division, has, owing to timely measures taken in coordination with the district administration, been able to substantially scale up the number of olive ridley hatchlings released into the sea by over 20,000 when compared to last year.
Out of the nearly 56,000 hatchlings released along the coastline in the Division, about 35,000 were in Mayiladuthurai district and more than 20,000 in Nagapattinam district. Last year, the number of olive ridley hatchlings released into the sea was in the range of 35,000, Wildlife Warden Yogesh Kumar Meena said.
More than 95% of the eggs were hatched and released, he said.
During January, over 100 olive ridley carcasses were washed ashore in Nagapattinam district, along the shores of Pushpavanam, Arcottuthurai, Kodiakarai and a few other villages. The cause for the escalation in the deaths of the turtles was attributed to destructive fishing practices.
In deference to the request raised by the Forest Department, the district administration had ensured restrictions in the fishing activities at the areas where the turtles got netted or got hit by propellers of mechanised boats.
The Fisheries department had conducted awareness programmes twice a week to prevail upon the fishermen to be active stakeholders in conservation of the turtle species.
