Drive to protect turtles launched in Konaseema

Rajahmundry: Forest and fisheries dept in Konaseema district have launched a drive to protect turtles. With turtle carcasses washing ashore on Konaseema coastline, officials have asked fishermen who use mechanised boats to fix turtle excluding device (TED) in their boats. Fishermen have also been been directed not to fish within five kilometres off the coast till the end of March, when the turtle breeding season, which usually starts in Jan, concludes.Konaseema district forest officer MV Prasada Rao said turtle deaths are mostly caused by the propellers of mechanised fishing boats. In other cases, they get injured and die after getting trapped in fishing nets, he added. "Unfortunately, turtle carcasses washing ashore has become regular phenomena on the coastline. The carcasses are mostly seen between Sakhineti Palli and Bhirava Palem coasts in the district. About 800 to 900 turtles come to the shore to lay eggs during the nesting season every year. We are making all efforts to protect them and reduce the deaths," he said. The number of turtle carcasses on Konaseema coastline has come down to 34 this year from 90 last year. The numbers are very high on the Tamil Nadu coast. The National Green Tribunal recently issued notices to the Tamil Nadu govt after huge number of dead turtles were washed ashore. There are four turtle conservation centres in Konaseema district at Vasalathippa, S Yanam, Gachhakayala Pora, and Sacramento Island. About 80,000 juvenile turtles were released into the sea last year.