The turtle drive

 

 

In the pristine beaches of Orissa where nature has been more than bountiful in lavishing it with natural beauty, undue human interference has ensured unmitigated and unchecked damages. Illegal trawling and unchecked fishing, as also unchecked marine erosion, threatens to endanger the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary – which has been visited by the endangered Olive Ridley turtles for nesting and laying eggs. Increasing violation of the Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act, which prohibits fishing near the protected zone, has been a regular phenomenon. The act, which prohibits fishing up to a distance of 20 km from the beaches of Olive Ridley turtles, has been a legal step advancing the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which includes the turtles in Schedule One of the Act (guaranteeing maximum protection). Despite that, the forest officials have been more or less unsuccessful in checking the growing illegal fishing and trawling. It has been estimated that the Orissa coast, which has been among the three sanctuaries in the world for these migratory turtles, has seen almost 100,000 turtles killed during the last ten years.

Apart from unchecked trawling, there have been other concerns as well that pose great potential threat. Large scale beach erosion along Gahirmatha coast has raised fears of the long lasting implications for the nesting turtles. Environmentalists contend that nesting grounds in the Nasi-1 and Nasi-2 islands have been severely affected by this unchecked erosion

To compound things further, oil exploration carried out by the Reliance Industries Limited in the NEC-25 and MD-10 spaces (which are roughly 90 and 65 kms away from the Gahirmatha coast) has raised fear of an impending disaster. It is contended that any oil spill and accidental fire can lead to serious repercussions for the turtles. Also enhanced shipping activity brought by the prospective Oil find can also cause the Olive turtles to change their migratory routes.

It is perhaps the right time when more emphasis and effective foresight is shown to preserving the turtles. Mere laying down of rules has been more of a failure than anything.