Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Oct 24: Coastal erosion, the construction of sea walls, and changing climatic conditions have together posed a grave threat to sea turtles along Karnataka’s shoreline, according to a long-term study conducted by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).
The study reveals that turtle nesting sites are gradually disappearing due to changing marine environments, human encroachment, and the impact of climate change. The decade-long research, covering the period from 2013 to 2023, highlights the serious decline in turtle breeding along the coast.
Dr Bindu Sulochanan, a scientist from CMFRI Mangaluru, led the extensive research which included field studies, assessments of marine productivity, monitoring of water quality, mapping of vessel traffic, and traditional ecological surveys.
Between 2013 and 2023, several prominent coastal areas including Panambur, Ermal, Kirimanjeshwar, and Bhatkal have been affected despite the construction of sea walls aimed at preventing erosion. The study found that Olive Ridley turtles, commonly sighted along Karnataka’s coastline, face growing challenges to their survival. Although the forest department has been taking steps to protect turtle eggs in certain areas, the survival rate remains low.
Turtles generally prefer wide, sandy beaches for nesting. However, sea walls obstruct their path, preventing them from reaching suitable nesting spots, Dr Bindu explained.
Rising sea levels caused by climate change have also submerged several nesting areas, further endangering turtle populations. From 2012 to 2023, Karnataka’s coast experienced 88 cyclonic events that contributed to coastal erosion and washed away turtle nests.
Dr Bindu emphasized that coastal erosion, sea walls, and climate change collectively threaten both marine life and coastal communities. She called for greater community participation in turtle conservation and suggested that coastal engineering practices must adapt to balance human safety with marine ecosystem preservation.