Udupi: FSL India Succeeds in Conserving Sea Turtles Along Coastal Karnataka
 
By Aishwarya Beejady
Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD)
 
Udupi, May 20: FSL India has been engaged in conserving sea turtles in coastal Karnataka since eight years. It has been engaged in conserving sea turtles from Shiroor seashore to Sastan–Kodikanyana on the Arabian Sea in the district.
 
The species of sea turtles were threatened as humans, birds, and wild animals preyed on the delicious eggs buried by them on the shore along the Arabian Sea.  The deep sea fishing along coastal Karnataka also threatened the survival of the sea turtles. The sea turtles that were trapped in fishing nets and killed by oceangoing vessels have also contributed to the dwindling number of sea turtles in the coastal district. 

In this backdrop, huge numbers of sea turtles that were arriving at the sea shore to lay their eggs on sands lessened over the years.  Meanwhile, the activists of FSL India embarked on creating general awareness on conserving the sea turtles.  They created awareness by walking along the seashore from Shiroor to Sastan–Kodikanyana meeting the fishermen and people living close to the sea.  The forest department also extended their whole-hearted support in this endeavour. 

Sign boards were displayed in prominent places along the seashore in order to create awareness on the urgency to conserve the species of sea turtles arriving on coastal Karnataka.  The breeding areas were laid on those areas which were frequented by sea turtles to lay their eggs in the past.  With these measures, FSL India could collect 550 eggs of sea turtles in the last year.  Its significant that their efforts were paid off to a greater extent, otherwise these eggs would become delicacies for the local fisheries community.
 
It’s the relentless efforts of FSL India activists comprising of Daniel from Slovakia, Julia from Germany, David from Italy, Venus from Hong Kong, local activists Joy Carvalho, Manju, Manjula, and Daya Salian that has helped achieved this marvelous feat thereby creating hope on conserving a greater number of sea turtles in the future.
 
Local Fishermen Have to Come Forward to Conserve Sea Turtles:      
 
“In order to sustain the sea turtles, the fisheries community has to take an interest in conserving the dwindling numbers arriving on seashore,” says Manjunat Beejady, a local activist, who oversees the sea turtles’ hatching facilities.  If the fishermen engaged in deep sea fishing take an interest in releasing sea turtles that were trapped in their fishing nets, the population of sea turtles will grow dramatically.  “I have been conserving sea turtles out of my own interest, without expecting any monetary consideration and due to the support FSL India,” added Manjunath.
 
North Indian State of Odisha Should Be Role Model:   
 
“The coast of the north Indian state of Odisha should become a role model for the national coast in the country,” said FSL India Kundapur division veteran local activist, says Joy Carvalho.  It’s due to the earnest interest of the Odisha government to conserve the sea turtles that the seashore of Odisha has become heaven for sea turtles arriving to lay their eggs. 

The scene of thousands and thousands of sea turtles arriving on Odisha coast is indeed a testimony to prove their success in this regard. General awareness can certainly conserve the sea turtles to a larger extent.  The sea turtles trapped in the nets of deep sea-going fisheries vessels are killed as the nets have no secured opening back to sea.  The foreign deep sea fishing vessels are equipped with such nets while the sea turtles trapped in their nets escape in secured openings. 

“If the local fishermen make efforts in weaving such nets, there will be an unceasing quantum of sea turtles on the Indian coast.  Besides, the plastic menace along the seashore also hinders the movement of sea turtles who arrive to lay their eggs.  The general awareness that has been created by FSL India is paying its fruits,” explained Carvalho.