In Karnataka Kodi Beach is a turtle nesting spot; keep trawlers off: Activists

UDUPI: There is a growing demand from conservationists to declare Kodi Beach in Kundapur as a turtle nesting hotspot. While they are hoping for more Olive Ridley turtle nesting sites to be appear at the beach this year, the death of two sea turtles in a week in Kundapur has left marine conservationists worried. One of the major worries is the trawling reportedly taking place near the shore. Conservation activities will get a major push only if the government declares the area as a turtle nesting hotspot.
Bharath Bangera, a volunteer with the Clean Kundapura Project, which has been cleaning up the Kodi beach every Sunday told TOI last week a gravid sea turtle was found dead and its fertile eggs were safely kept in a hatchery by volunteers of FSL India and forest department personnel at Kodi Beach. The turtle had come to lay eggs, unfortunately, the turtle may have been hit by the propeller of a fishing vessel leading to its instant death. The post-mortem was conducted by experts from Reefwatch. About 124 eggs were retrieved and safely transferred to a hatchery created on the beach. Volunteers and the department personnel will keep close watch round-the-clock on the hatchery till the last egg hatches and the hatchlings reach the sea, he said.
Another turtle was also washed ashore in Beejadi. But a postmortem could not be conducted as the turtle was decomposed. "Trawling is happening close to the shore instead of deep sea. If the area is protected, considering that it is a sea turtle nesting hotspot, the marine fauna can be saved," Bangera said.
Since 2019 volunteers are monitoring marine activity, including FSL India volunteers spending sleepless nights on beaches protecting the hatcheries. Sea turtles are a fundamental link in marine ecosystems and help maintain the health of coral reefs and seagrass beds.
Kundapur deputy conservator of forests Uday Nayak said that the department is mulling over having a turtle conservation reserve and is already working on the conservation and protection of sea turtles in Kundapur.