Thousands of Olive Ridley turtles have washed ashore dead in Chennai, India, raising concerns about the impact of overfishing and climate change on marine life. Fishers are caught between their livelihoods and the need to protect endangered species.
The high number of turtle deaths in Chennai , India , is primarily attributed to overfishing near the coast, according to experts. This has sparked debate and anger within the region regarding how to prevent these tragic occurrences. While fishers express their distress over the situation, they also highlight the challenging economic conditions they face.
Rising fuel costs and dwindling fish populations due to warmer waters and climate change have forced them to fish closer to shore, increasing the risk of entanglement with turtles. Fishermen in Chennai argue that the technology used in their boats and nets, designed by government-backed research organizations decades ago, has not been updated. They express a willingness to adopt new technologies that could mitigate turtle deaths if provided. Another fisher, K. Bharathi, points to the decline in fish populations in recent decades due to climate change and excessive fishing as a major factor driving trawler boats into areas where they shouldn't be. He suggests that measures to increase fish resources, such as creating artificial coral reefs, could help alleviate this competition and indirectly protect turtles.Climate scientists have observed an increased risk of more intense, unpredictable, and frequent cyclones along India's coastline due to global warming, further exacerbating the situation. A local government order in 2016 aimed to address this issue by prohibiting trawl boats from using large nets within five nautical miles of the coastline during turtle nesting season. The law also mandates the use of turtle excluder devices (TEDs) to allow turtles to escape nets. Government officials have intensified turtle protection efforts in recent weeks, working to sensitize fishers to release any turtles caught in their nets. However, fishers like M.E. Raghupathi argue that TEDs are not economically viable as they can also allow fish to escape. He suggests alternative solutions like installing cameras in nets to monitor turtle interactions. Following media reports on the turtle deaths, India's National Green Tribunal, the country's highest court for environmental issues, has threatened a complete ban on fishing during turtle nesting season if fishing regulations are not strictly enforced
Olive Ridley Turtles Overfishing Climate Change India Chennai Marine Life Environmental Protection Fishing Regulations
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