Karnataka: Tar balls may affect sea turtle breeding

MANGALURU: The Karnataka coast has been witness to tar balls that wash up ashore almost every year during the onset of monsoon. On World Oceans Day, being observed on Monday, Clean Kundapura Project, a group of like minded people who undertake beach cleaning every Sunday have expressed fear that the presence of tar balls in beaches of Kundapur could affect the turtle population.
A representative of the project, told TOI, “When compared to last year, there is a drastic rise in the amount of tar balls found on the beaches of Kundapur.”
Accidental spillages during transportation of crude oil, release of ballast water from ships and operational discharges from offshore drilling, pipeline leakages and spills due to tanker accidents are some of the major sources of oil for the formation of tar balls.
“When a cyclone hits the coast, it will bring all the skimmed tar on the shore. Due to the increase in the tar balls, we can expect a rise in the death of sea turtles, dolphins and sharks. Once monsoon sets it, the sea turtles arrive for breeding. We noticed the death of several sea turtles last year, said the volunteer who has been closely observing the beaches of Kundapur for the past five years. Their main concern is that sea turtles that arrive for breeding may accidentally eat tar balls and since they heat up and ooze into the sand, they can destroy crucial nesting habitat for turtles.
The team had taken up the issue with the pollution control board, Udupi last year, who in turn sent samples to the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal. Based on the colour and smell, it is presumed that the tar ball consists of petroleum hydrocarbons. Since it is attached to sand, it was not easily extractable for analysis, stated the sample report.
The team fears that the turtle population is under threat. Last year, they did not spot any turtle nesting sites in the region. The team has been conducting beach cleaning every Sunday, an activity that has come to a halt during the lockdown.