PARADIP: Even as Indian Coast Guard and Forest Department have stepped up measures for protection of Olive Ridley seas turtles, the officials concerned have so far buried carcasses of nearly 36 turtles while several others can be seen floating in the sea.
Sources said ICG, Paradip, launched ‘Operation Oliva’ at three major nesting sites of turtles, Gahiramatha Marine Sanctuary, Devi river mouth and Rushikulya beach for checking turtle deaths during the mating season between November 1 and May 31.
While the Coast Guards have deployed ships in the sea, fishery officials and marine police are keeping a strict vigil on movement of mechanised boats, which are the main reason behind the turtle deaths. Use of commercial fishing trawlers, mainly the mechanised ones with gill nets, has been cited as the prime reason behind the deaths of turtles.
This apart, water pollution is also taking its toll on turtles and other aquatic creatures. Carcasses of fish lying on the shore of Devi river has become a common scene. The environmentalists have attributed the death of aquatic species to indiscriminate release of effluents into the sea by some industries. They have urged the officials concerned to prevent contamination of sea to protect birds and animals. Local fishermen claimed to have observed dead turtles floating in the sea this season and many of these have been washed deep into the sea and hence go unnoticed. Forest Range Officer, Kujang, Pratap Chandra Mohanty said as per the post-mortem report, it has been found that the cause of deaths was suffocation and it should be properly inquired to know the reason behind the suffocation.